Chile Selected as the Venice Production Bridge 2025 Focus Country (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comJohn Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Making good on a recent slew of awards at Venice for Chilean films, Chile will be the Venice Production Bridge’s Focus Country in 2025.
The announcement will be made Thursday from the Venice Film Festival by Carolina Arredondo, Chile’s Minister of Culture, Arts, and Heritage as Chilean director Pablo Larraín’s “María,” starring Angelina Jolie as the legendary opera singer Maria Callas, world premieres on Venice’s Lido. “This is a significant achievement for our creators, who have found in Venice a crucial platform to internationalize their projects,” Arredondo underscored. “Being the Focus Country will allow us to strengthen Chile’s audiovisual industry and attract new opportunities for co-production and global promotion.” The honor comes after a decade or more, broadly dating back to Larraín’s 2012 “NO,” starring Gael García Bernal, when Chile has punched way above its weight as an international film force.
Chilean films’ Academy Award tally – two wins and seven nomination since 2012 – is the best tally of any country in South America.
While Larrain’s “El Conde” scooped best screenplay at Venice last year, its Festival prize count since 2021 also underscores Chile’s depth of talent extending beyond Pablo Larraín, Sebastián Lelio and Maite Alberdi to emerging talent.
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