San Sebastian Film Festival has revealed its line-up of Latin American projects for the Films In Progress section, including works from rising Uruguayan talents Federico Veiroj and Daniel Hendler.

The line-up includes Veiroj’s new project La Vida Util, starring Jorge Jellinek as a middle age man going through a crisis after he loses his job. The film is backed by leading Uruguayan producers Control Z Films, who also supported Veiroj’s previous film Acne.

The programme will also feature Hendler’s debut feature Norbeto, Apenas Tarde, about a man who always runs late. As an actor, he starred in films including Lost Embrace and Whiskey.

The remaining films are also first time features, including Rompe Cabezas from renowned Argentinian assistant director Natalia Smirnoff, who takes the step up to the director’s chair.

Films In Progress is a successful vehicle for Latin American projects looking for completion funding. It has grown in popularity over recent years and now attracts leading producers, distributors, investors and festival heads from all over the world.

Films In Progress line-up:  

  • La Vida Util, Dir: Federico Veiroj (Uruguay)
  • Agua Fria Del Mar, Dir: Paz Fabrega (Costa Rica-France)
  • Lucia, Dir: Niles Jamil Atallah (Chile)
  • Rompe Cabezas, Dir: Natalia Smirnoff (Argentina-France)
  • Norbeto, Apenas Tarde, Dir: Daniel Hendler (Uruguay)
  • A Tiro De Piedra, Dir: Sebastian Hiriart (Mexico)

Meanwhile, the festival has also announced three films for its Cinema In Motion section, which promotes projects from the Maghreb region and developing Arabian countries also looking for completion funding. It has selected Iraqi director Mohamed Al-Daradji’s Gulf war drama In The Sands Of Babylon and two debut features, Iman Kamel’s Egyptian drama Nomad’s Home and Kamal Aljafari’s Palestinian-German co-production Port Of Memory.