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By Marta García, from Buenos Aires

In a historic year marked by the debating of the Cinema Law, the Peruvian audiovisual production industry is taking part in Ventana Sur with a diverse delegation. Twenty companies will come together at the stand which Peru will open for the first time on Avenida de los Negocios (Business Avenue) at the Argentine market.

In First Cut, the section for films in post-production, “Todos Somos Marineros (We’re all sailors)” was screened. This is the debut by Miguel Angel Moulet and produced by El Navegante Films in a co-production with the Dominican production company Monte y Culebra. The film, which was entered in 2015 at the Cannes Film Festival’s Fabrique des cinémas du monde (World Cinema Factory), is the personal story of three sailors who are stranded at a port and in life.

In Animation!, the Peruvian animation sector is present with two co-productions: “Dalia y el libro rojo (Dalia and the red book)” from the Argentinian director David Bisbano, a film from the Argentinian production companies Vista Fur Films, Felipe Producciones, FilmSharks Int and the Peruvian company Golem Studio which is being shown in the WIP (Works in Progress) section; and “Las aventuras de Ugo y Serena la ballena (The Adventures of Ugo and Serena the whale)”, a 2D cut-out series from the Argentinian Sebastián Mignona (El perro en la luna) in which Brazilian filmmakers also took part.

Peru is also showing completed films: the family comedy “El Sistema Solar (The solar system)” by Bacha Caravedo and Daniel Higashionna, a production from Peruvian production company Señor Z and the Spanish production company Pontas Films is being shown at the market screenings represented by Filmax International; “La cantera (The Quarry)” by Miguel Barredo Delgado (Vía Expresa) is being shown in the Films in Progress section; and the documentary “Río verde.  El tiempo de los Yakurunas (Green River. The time of the Yakurunas) by Alvaro and Diego Sarmiento is available at the video library.

Peruvian production companies are also using the market to seek collaborators for other projects under development. These include “Orquídeas del paraíso (Paradise Orchids)” by Jorge Caterbona (Siete Samurai), “Encintados (Curbs)” by Gianfranco Quattrini (Planta Madre Cine) and “La herencia de Flora (Flora’s legacy)” by Augusto Tamayo (Argos Productions). In the animation category “Un Reino entre las nubes (A kingdom in the clouds)” is being presented by Red Animation, amongst others.

Completing the delegation is the Tondero Films distribution division, promoting a catalogue of thirty Peruvian films; the independent distributor Bobine Films and representatives of the Lima Festival, East of Lima Festival and the Ajayu Animation Festival.

The Peruvian delegation is taking part in Ventana Sur just when all eyes are on the Cinema Law, as it works its way through Congress. “It entered congress this September, and was sent to two commissions (Culture and Budget). Two weeks ago it was passed by the Commission for Culture, and we are waiting for it to be debated and passed by Congress this year. If not, the debate will be postponed until March 2018” Natalia Ames Ramello, chief coordinator for DAFO (Audiovisual, Phonographic and New Media Office), which is taking part in Ventana Sur representing film authorities, explained to LatAm.

“If passed, as well as tripling the budget for film from what we receive under the current Law on Cinematography and facilitating co-productions with other countries, one of the main benefits of the new Law is that it will better boost Peruvian cinema and audiovisual production on the international stage through direct incentives which will promote an increased presence for Peru at international festivals and markets”, she adds.

Source: LatamCinema.com