FilmFestivals.com Latin American correspondent
Clara Fernandez Escudero

Cannes, the Festival among festivals

As the rest of the cinephiles around the world, the Cannes International Film Festival is much awaited in Latin America, especially since some of the films produced and conceived in the Spanish speaking portion of the globe -many of them with Spain's support in co-productions or distribution within Europe- have started to occupy relevant positions in some of the festival's most popular sections.

If they get lucky -or offer a cast with some famous stars, a good script or well known directors-, some of those films may even get into the Official Competition. Once the festival is over, these movies may not win the Best Film award, but in most cases, they will surely get the attention of the specialized press from every corner of the world, and some distributor willing to take the risk may end up catching a glimpse of it and decide to take the chance to show it in many European cities.

And this, of course, is a chance all the filmmakers from these latitudes hope for. Anyway, Cannes is -no doubt about that- the festival among festivals for Latin American audiences, critics and filmmakers.

According to Cristian Galaz, a young and talented Chilean director (his last picture, Sentimental Chat, got the Audience Award at Toulouse and has him travelling to festivals all over the world), Cannes is "a dream come true". He emphasizes the fact that "Cannes has become so prestigious that no one dreams of ever being invited to get to sit down in those glamorous theatres among all these famous stars".

Argentinean Eduardo Milewicz (Life according to Muriel) thinks that "even though San Sebastian may seem dearer to South American filmmakers -probably because it takes place in Spain, and we believe our cultural bonds might mean some form of advantage for us-, Cannes is the only place to be."