The 72nd edition of the San Sebastian International Festival has officially announced the six feature films that will comprise the WIP Latam (Work in Progress Latin America) section for 2024. This prestigious industry platform, scheduled to take place from September 21 to 23, serves as a vital bridge for Latin American productions currently in the post-production phase, offering them a global stage to secure the necessary resources for completion and international distribution. The selection reflects a diverse array of cinematic voices, ranging from established award-winning documentarians to emerging directors exploring hybrid genres.
The Strategic Importance of WIP Latam in the Global Film Circuit
The WIP Latam initiative is a cornerstone of the San Sebastian Industry Club, designed to foster the growth of cinema from Central and South America. By providing a curated environment where filmmakers can present their nearly finished works to sales agents, distributors, and festival programmers, San Sebastian reinforces its role as the primary gateway for Latin American cinema into the European market. This year’s selection is particularly noteworthy for its continuity, as three of the six titles—Mariano Luque’s Viajes y placeres, Juan Sebastián Mesa’s Lovers Go Home!, and Beatriz Seigner’s O último canto dos pássaros—were previously incubated within the festival’s Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum.
The transition from a co-production project to a "Work in Progress" selection signifies a successful development cycle, demonstrating the festival’s commitment to nurturing films through their entire lifecycle. This year’s lineup features co-productions involving Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Spain, France, and Canada, highlighting the increasingly transnational nature of contemporary Latin American filmmaking.
A Detailed Overview of the 2024 Selection
Galerna by Tatiana Huezo (Mexico-Spain)
Tatiana Huezo, a Salvadoran-Mexican filmmaker who has become a staple at San Sebastian, returns with Galerna. Produced by the renowned Pimienta Films—the powerhouse behind Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma—in collaboration with Spanish partners, the film marks a significant stylistic evolution for Huezo. Known for her poetic and harrowing documentaries like El lugar más pequeño and Tempestad, as well as her acclaimed fiction debut Noche de fuego (Prayers for the Stolen), Huezo’s new project follows two characters of differing backgrounds as they traverse Mexico. Their mission is to find non-professional actors for a science fiction project, creating a narrative that blurs the lines between reality and speculative fiction. Huezo’s presence in the WIP section is highly anticipated, given her track record of critical success, including a Best Director win at the Berlinale for her most recent documentary, El eco.
Viajes y placeres by Mariano Luque (Argentina-Uruguay)
Argentine director Mariano Luque presents Viajes y placeres, a project that has evolved from its initial presentation at the 2022 Co-Production Forum under the title Inspección en la Tierra. Produced by El Carro and co-produced with Uruguay, the film stars Marcelo Subiotto, a versatile actor who recently gained international acclaim for his role in Puan. The narrative centers on a television presenter in professional decline who convinces a long-time friend, played by Eugenia Alonso, to join him in filming a new episode of his travel show. The plot takes a surreal turn when the duo discovers mysterious extraterrestrial eggs during their journey. This film marks Luque’s third feature, following Salsipuedes and Otra madre, both of which established his reputation for intimate, character-driven storytelling.
Lovers Go Home! by Juan Sebastián Mesa (Colombia-Spain-Canada-France)
Juan Sebastián Mesa, whose debut The Nobodies won the Audience Award at Venice Critics’ Week, brings Lovers Go Home! to the 2024 showcase. A co-production between Colombia’s Rhayuela Films and partners in Spain, Canada, and France, the film explores the modern complexities of digital intimacy. It focuses on the virtual relationship between a webcam model in Medellín and a retired American veteran who is one of her regular clients. The story escalates when the veteran decides to travel to Colombia to meet her in person, forcing a confrontation between their digital personas and their physical realities. This is Mesa’s third feature, following La roya (The Rust), and continues his exploration of the youth and urban landscapes of Medellín.
O último canto dos pássaros by Beatriz Seigner (Brazil-France-Uruguay)
Brazilian filmmaker Beatriz Seigner presents O último canto dos pássaros (The Last Song of the Birds), previously known as O vôo do flamingo. Seigner, who gained international recognition with Los Silencios (premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight), offers a story about a Brazilian "sound archaeologist." The protagonist travels with her 14-year-old son to find the boy’s father, whose legal authorization is required for the teenager to travel abroad. The film is produced by Abrolhos Filmes and involves co-production efforts with France and Uruguay. This project represents Seigner’s third solo feature, further cementing her status as a vital voice in Brazilian cinema.
La cuestión criminal by Matías Scarvaci (Argentina-Chile)
Making his debut at the San Sebastian Festival, Matías Scarvaci presents La cuestión criminal, a legal drama that examines the mechanics of justice. Produced by Naso Cine in co-production with Chile, the film also features Marcelo Subiotto. The narrative employs a "mirror" structure, following an official jury and a parallel, unofficial jury as they simultaneously deliberate on a homicide case. This structural choice serves to critique the collective construction of justice and the subjective nature of truth. Scarvaci, known for his work in El libro de los jueces, continues to explore the intersection of law and human behavior in this fourth feature.
Todos los lugares a donde ir by Tiagx Vélez (Colombia)
The selection is rounded out by Tiagx Vélez’s second feature, Todos los lugares a donde ir (All the Places to Go). Produced by Crisálida Cine, the film follows Miguel, a young man whose boyfriend vanishes without a trace during a techno party. Using the digital fragments left behind—photos and videos on his phone—Miguel attempts to reconstruct the presence of his missing partner through encounters with strangers and ghosts from his past. Vélez, whose artistic practice often intersects with installation and performance art, previously co-directed El origen de las especies with Juliana Zuluaga.
Chronology of the Selection and Event Timeline
The selection process for WIP Latam begins months in advance, with the festival’s programming committee reviewing dozens of submissions from across the continent. The timeline for the 2024 edition is as follows:
- June – July 2024: Submission period for Latin American films in post-production.
- August 2024: Deliberation and final selection of the six titles.
- September 21, 2024: Commencement of the WIP Latam screenings for accredited industry professionals at the San Sebastian Festival.
- September 22, 2024: One-on-one meetings between filmmakers and potential partners (distributors, sales agents).
- September 23, 2024: Conclusion of the industry sessions and deliberation for the WIP Latam awards.
- September 25, 2024: Official announcement of the award winners during the festival’s industry honors ceremony.
Financial Support and Industry Recognition
The WIP Latam section is not merely a showcase; it is a competitive platform with significant financial and logistical rewards designed to ensure the films reach completion. Two primary awards are at stake:
- The WIP Latam Industry Award: This prize is granted by several major Spanish companies, including Best Digital, Deluxe Spain, Dolby Ibérica, Nephilim Producciones, and No Problem Sonido. It covers the costs of post-production services, including image and sound editing, as well as the creation of a DCP (Digital Cinema Package). Additionally, the winning film receives distribution in Spain through Barton Films.
- The EGEDA Platino Industry Award for Best WIP Latam: This award consists of a €30,000 cash prize (approximately $33,000 USD) paid to the majority producer of the winning film. Funded by EGEDA (Audiovisual Producers’ Rights Management Association), this grant is intended to provide the liquidity needed to finalize the project’s remaining production expenses.
Broader Implications for Latin American Cinema
The 2024 WIP Latam selection arrives at a critical juncture for the Latin American film industry. In countries like Argentina, recent shifts in government policy and funding cuts to the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA) have left many filmmakers in a state of financial uncertainty. Consequently, international platforms like San Sebastian have become even more essential for the survival of regional cinema.
The inclusion of two Argentine films—both featuring Marcelo Subiotto—underscores the resilience of the country’s creative sector despite domestic challenges. Furthermore, the presence of strong female voices like Tatiana Huezo and Beatriz Seigner highlights a continued push for gender parity and diverse perspectives in high-profile industry slots.
Industry analysts suggest that the trend toward genre experimentation—as seen in the science fiction elements of Galerna and the surrealism of Viajes y placeres—indicates a departure from the traditional social realism that has long defined Latin American exports. By blending political and social themes with genre conventions, these filmmakers are positioning their work to appeal to a broader, more global audience while maintaining their cultural specificity.
As these six films prepare for their screenings in San Sebastian, the eyes of the international film community will be on the Donostia-San Sebastián province. The outcomes of the WIP Latam showcase will likely dictate the festival trajectory of these titles for the 2025 season, with many expected to premiere at top-tier festivals such as Berlin, Cannes, or Venice once finalized. For the directors and producers involved, the three days in September represent a pivotal moment that could transform a "work in progress" into the next global cinematic sensation.
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