Films in Progress : a bridge between Toulouse and Lima

A pioneering support system for Latin American films at the post-production stage will now take place in two different continents: after Toulouse, now also as part of the Lima Film Festival’s industry section «Cinema of Tomorrow», thus reaffirming the importance of cooperation between Europe and Latin America.

Considering the fast evolution of the audiovisual industry, the interests of Latin American makers and producers, the possibilities of professional cooperation between Europe, Latin America and the rest of the world, and the need to stimulate Latin American film markets and to create opportunities for movies to exist and find their audiences, the Lima Film Festival PUCP (Peru) joins Cinélatino Rencontres of Toulouse to face common challenges and share their fundamental values through Films In Progress.

Both organizations are convinced that acting now and joining forces through Films in progress is particularly important in the current situation, due to the consequences that the Coronavirus outbreak will have on Latin American film production. The event will be held online, as part of the Lima Film Festival PUCP in August, in a similar way than its late March edition during Cinélatino Rencontres of Toulouse.

The Lima Film Festival PUCP, a prominent Peruvian event dedicated to Latin American film culture, takes place during the month of August and is currently preparing its 24th edition. In the last four years, the festival hs held a professional section, «Cinema of Tomorrow», to encourage the encounter of Peruvian filmmakers and international film professionals through a program Peruvian works in progress and a LAB for Peruvian feature film projects in development.

The call for Lima’s edition of Films In Progress will be published soon. Also, the section will aim to host six projects that innovate in the use of film language and show great artistic quality. The selection committee will be composed both by Lima and Toulouse representatives

Awards, prizes and other details will be announced progressively.

The Lima-Toulouse collaboration responds to the expectations and hopes of filmmakers and producers of films yet to be discovered, promoted, distributed and shared with their intended audiences.

This initiative was created in 2002 and Lima will provide a new page in an already successful story. Many important films got their start in  Films In Progress, among which the following should be mentioned:

• Since 2002, 209 films have been presented in 36 sessions of Films in Progress.
• Once completed, 106 films have been selected in different sections of prestigious international festivals such as Cannes (27 films), Berlin, Venice, San Sebastián, Sundance, Locarno and Rotterdam.
• Among them, many have been awarded some of the most prestigious prizes, including:
• GLORIA, by Sebastián Lelio (Chile/Spain): Silver Bear Award for Best Actress, Paulina García in Berlin, official section (2013)
• BAD HAIR (PELO MALO), by Mariana Rondón (Venezuela): Golden Seashell in San Sebastián, official section (2013)
• IXCANUL, by Jayro Bustamante (Guatemala/France): Silver Bear for best Artistic Contribution-Alfred Bauer Prize in Berlin, official section (2015) 
• FROM AFAR, (DESDE ALLÁ), by Lorenzo Vigas (Venezuela/Mexico): Golden Lion in Venice, official section (2015)
• THE WINTER (EL INVIERNO), by Emiliano Torres (Argentina/France): Special Jury Prize and Best Cinematography Prize, in San Sebastián, official section (2016)
• REY, by Niles Atallah (Chile/France/Netherlands-Qatar): Special Jury Prize in Rotterdam, official section (2017)
• HUNTING SEASON (TEMPORADA DE CAZA), by Natalia Garagiola (Argentina/United States/France/Germany/Qatar): Audience Award, Settimana della Critica, in Venice (2017)
• THE SHARKS (TIBURONES), by Lucía Garibaldi (Uruguay/Argentina/Spain): Award for Best Direction in Sundance, World Cinema Dramatic section (2018)
• WHITE ON WHITE (BLANCO EN BLANCO), de Theo Court (Chili/Espagne/France), by Theo Court (Chile/Spain/France): Best Director Award and FIPRESCI Award in Venice, Orizzonti section (2019)
• SOME BEAST (ALGUNAS BESTIAS), by Jorge Riquelme (Chili), New Directors Award in San Sebastián, New Directors section (2019)
• IDENTIFYING FEATURES (SIN SEÑAS PARTICULARES), by Fernanda Valadez (Mexico/Spain): Audience Award and Special Jury Award for Best Screenplay in Sundance, World Cinema Dramatic Competition (2020)
• It is worth mentioning that around 80 films programmed in Films In Progress have been commercially distributed in France.