The Argentinian winner of San Sebastian's Films in Progress proved a true labour of love. Diego Batlle talks to the film's director.

At just 31, Argentinian film-maker Ana Katz is one of the most prolific and versatile artists of her generation. A renowned film, theatre and commercials actor-writer-producer-director, Katz's second feature The Wandering Bride (Una Novia Errante), co-written with Ines Bortagaray, premiered at Cannes in Un Certain Regard.

'It's an urgent, impulsive, wildly emotional story developed and shot in less than a year,' says Katz of the film.

The tragicomedy portrays the misadventures of a young woman, played by Katz, who breaks up with her boyfriend, portrayed by Katz's real-life partner Daniel Hendler, at the beginning of a planned romantic holiday.

Katz produced the $800,000 film with Nicolas Tacconi and associate producer Flehner Films, a leading Buenos Aires advertisement production company for which she directs commercials.

Shot on HD, the project won the Films in Progress prize at last year's San Sebastian film festival, allowing post-production to take place in Madrid. It was blown up to 35mm, and Spain's Mediapro came on board as co-producer. France's Bodega Films is co-producer.

Primer Plano released The Wandering Bride in Argentina on June 7, where it has seen 15,000 admissions to date. The company is also handling international sales.

A veteran of the New Argentinian Cinema movement - in 1998 she was the assistant director on Pablo Trapero's Crane World - Katz studied at the Universidad del Cine, where she shot several award-winning short films and where she now teaches. Her directorial debut in 2002 was the acclaimed family comedy Musical Chairs (El Juego De La Silla), adapted from her own stage play.

Katz is now packaging her next project, the $750,000 Bienestar. She describes the project as an absurd comedy which will be shot later this year as a co-production with Rizoma Films.

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