National promotion body Chiledoc has a busy week ahead as it presents new projects at Sheffield DocFest (18 – 23 June) and Sunny Side of the Doc (23 – 26 June).
SHEFFIELD DOCFEST
In Sheffield, Unwelcomed, directed by Amilcar Infante and Sebastián González, and produced by Sebastián González and Esteban Sandoval, will have its European premiere in the Journeys section. The documentary, which begins with the burning of migrants’ belongings in northern Chile, explores the human side of the migration crisis. It world premiered in International Competition at the Hot Docs, where it received the Emerging International Filmmaker Award.
Meanwhile, two Chilean projects are selected for MeetMarket. The Safest Place (early production) is directed by Milena Castro and Magdalena Hurtado, and produced by Ignacia Merino and Isabel Reyes. The film tells the courageous story of three women who, after years of silence, come together to reconstruct the memory of the sexual abuse they suffered as children – abuse perpetrated by family members in their own homes. Through an intimate and poetic narrative, they attempt to rebuild the safe space that was taken from them so many years ago.
The other MeetMarket project is Chilean Untitled Documentary, whose title remains undisclosed due to the sensitivity of the subject. Directed by Carola Fuentes, and produced by Rafael Valdeavellano (La Ventana Chile), Ina Fichman, Mandy Chang and Simón Kilmurry, the project follows an international team of journalists investigating the long-term impacts left by multinational corporations in Latin America. The project also has the support of the Ford Foundation and Chicken & Egg Pictures.
“As the Ministry of Cultures, we remain committed to the audiovisual sector, supporting the presence of Chilean works and projects in major documentary markets and festivals, such as the Chilean delegation at Sheffield DocFest. This is a joint effort we will continue to develop alongside representatives from the sector, always aiming to improve the conditions for the internationalization of our industry – growing and supporting local creators in Chile and around the world,” says Carolina Arredondo, Minister of Cultures, Arts and Heritage.
The Chilean documentary delegation traveling to Sheffield includes Francisco Hervé (Juntos Films) with The Stationary Traveller and An Invisible Lady), Sebastián González and Amilcar Infante (Amilcar Films), Joaquín Echeverría (Brisa Films, with Aliyá, Yeridá and You the Artists), Magdalena Hurtado and Isabel Reyes (DosBe Producciones) and Diego Pino, executive director of Chiledoc.
SUNNY SIDE OF THE DOC
Three Chilean documentaries are selected for Pitches at Sunny Side of the Doc (June 23 to 26). These are:
- Unveiling the Cosmos: The Rubin Observatory, directed by Gonzalo Argandoña and produced by Diego Rojas (Cábala Films) and Albert Salord (Bilderfest), selected for Science Pitch. The feature documentary explores how, starting in the fall of 2025, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will map the entire night sky at an unprecedented speed, capturing changes in near real-time. Researchers around the globe anticipate ground-breaking discoveries about supernovae, dark matter, and dark energy. Will this new telescope offer observations that challenge or even transform our understanding of the cosmos?
- South Pole Explorers will be part of the Nature & Environment Pitch. This four-part documentary series, directed by Jota Loyola and produced by Juan Ramírez (Oxitocine), ventures into the South Pole – the most awe-inspiring, exotic, and mysterious place on Earth. Protecting it must be humanity’s top priority as we face the profound changes our world is undergoing. Following the expeditions of international explorers, the series uncovers the cutting-edge science taking place there. “It’s a series of entertainment and adventure, but above all, of inspiration—because it addresses how human ingenuity can overcome the challenges of change,” says director Loyola.
- The Letelier File will participate in the History Pitch. The four-part series is directed by Rafael Valdeavellano and Nicolás Acuña, and produced by Mitzy Saldivia. The project unveils the hidden network of spies, secret agents, and covert operations behind the 1976 car-bomb assassination of former Chilean ambassador Orlando Letelier in Embassy Row, Washington, D.C., exposing an international diplomatic scandal whose full story is only now coming to light—just as the 50th anniversary approaches. The series features Carola Fuentes (La Ventana Cine) as showrunner. “Attending Sunny Side is a unique opportunity to seek co-productions in Europe,” says Fuentes.
“Having Chile represented at Sunny Side of the Doc with three projects selected for different pitches is unprecedented,” says Paula Ossandón, director of Chiledoc, who will also serve as a jury member for the Arts & Entertainment Pitch at the market. “Sunny Side is a crucial platform for strengthening factual content. The films and series presented showcase a wide range of content and formats, reflecting the variety of proposals emerging from Chile.”
Among activities that Chiledoc will promote at the French market are bilateral co-production meetings—aimed at strengthening partnerships with Germany and/or Belgium, specifically with the Wallonia-Brussels region, Ossandón adds.
The Chilean delegation attending the market will include Carola Fuentes and Rafael Valdeavellano from La Ventana Cine; Gonzalo Argandoña and Diego Rojas from Cábala Films; Juan Ramírez from Oxitocine; as well as Paula Ossandón and Diego Pino, director and deputy director of Chiledoc.
