Ventana Sur unveils market titles from the Latam series

The hybrid documentary series “The Letelier File,” which delves into what is often called the first act of international terrorism on U.S. soil, appears to be a potential highlight among the eleven projects selected for one-on-one meetings during the Latam Series from Ventana Sur Markt.

“The Letelier File” unites major creative forces in Chilean film TV – “Prison in the Andes” creator Felipe Carmona and directors Rafael Valdeavellano (“Chicago Boys,” “Breaking the Brick”) and Nicolás Acuña, a director of Fox’s “ Besieged” and RTVE/TNC’s “The 1000 Days of Allende.”

The eleven projects also include the hybrid doc series “Blessed,” the first TV series developed by “The Settlers” producer Quijote Films.

Also in the mix are ‘Couple’s Apartment’, made by Azul Lombardia – creator-director of ‘Según Roxi’, seen on Netflix, Movistar and TVP from Latin America, the film ‘Doberman’ and the big Netflix hit ‘No me rompan’ – and Lucas Mirvois, co-creator of podcast success ‘Malas Decisiones’, starring Anna Castillo, and ‘Según Roxi’.

Genre titles make up a fair chunk of the lineup, with the horror revenant series “The Plague” and the sci-fi scenario of “Second Life” and the partially procedural “Dead Man.” Just as strong are the titles that could be described as doc series, such as ‘Blessed’, true crime entries ‘The Leterrier File’, ‘Santa Marta’, ‘Stolen Identity: Sexual Crime in the Digital Age’.

Many series producers are looking for other business partners. Most hope to explicitly or implicitly attract streamer funding. With free-to-air primetime increasingly dominated by remakes of Turkish smash hits, Latin America’s stagnant platform production has hit the jackpot.

The 11 projects that are on their way to one-on-one meetings:

“Blessed” (Director: Picky Talarico; Chile)

Produced by Giancarlo Nasi and Sergio Karmy for Chile’s Quijote Films, behind Cannes winner “Land and Shade” and Blanquita, as well as “The Settlers,” a documentary series created by Yassín Velázquez and Constanza Erenchun. In it, the biggest names in Chilean urban music share challenging episodes from their lives and their creative processes. “This kind of content makes a lot of sense because it combines Quijote’s sense of quality with what people want to see,” says Karmy.

“Apartment for couples” (Creators: Azul Lombardía and Lucas Mirvois; Argentina)

‘Departamento’, produced by Mirvois on his La Maldita label, sees three married couples who are friends decide to rent an apartment where each of them can enjoy their married life for a week. What follows is an “adventure full of misunderstandings, jealousy, regrets and wild accidents,” the synopsis reads.

“The Letelier File” (Writer: Felipe Carmona: Directors: Rafael Valdeavellano, Nicolás Acuña; Chile)

Produced by Carola Fuentes, co-director of ‘Chicago Boys’ and ‘Breaking the Brick’, a documentary/true crime series about the 1976 terrorist attack near the White House targeting Pinochet opponent Orlando Letelier, and revealing the role of Chile’s infamous intelligence agency, DINA.

“Land of Freedom” (Creators-writers: Kristian Natalicchio, Patricia Liguori; Mexico)

A drama series in which the founder of Freedomland, Mexico’s most prestigious advertising agency, is arrested for tax fraud. When he is locked up, the candidates try to succeed him. Created and written by seasoned advertising producer Kristian Natalicchio and playwright, screenwriter and producer Patricia Liguori, who directs plays ‘Etiqueta Azul’, ‘Dos Hermanas’ and ‘Vestidito’.

“Dead man” (Writer-director: Joaquín Bravo; Uruguay)

A quirky crime mystery drama, in which Eleonor, a therapist who specializes in helping men ‘kill’ an internalized version of their masculinity, is embroiled in a murder investigation. From Bravo, creator of “No hay nadie” (2023), a short-form web series. The Uruguayan Básico Producciones produces.

“Stolen Identity: Sexual Crimes in the Digital Age” (Director: Sebastián Carreras; Argentina)

A true crime documentary, this series tells the story of a woman whose life was turned upside down after she discovered her ex had stolen her identity and created fake profiles with intimate photos. “Stolen Identity” documents the protagonist’s transformation from victim to activist as she confronts her bully and fights to create laws against digital violence. The series is produced by Cactus Cine and written by Sebastián Davidovksy.

“The Plague” (Director: Guillermo Carbonell; Uruguay)

Produced by Murdoc, this supernatural thriller is set in 1970 Montevideo, where dead people come back to life, not as zombies, but rather as confused people looking for answers about their lives. A paramilitary group keeps the phenomenon secret, hunting the resurrected and locking them in metal coffins on a deserted island. The short film of the same name by director Carbonell won several awards in 2017, including at Morbido Fest and Fantaspoa.

“To live” (Director: Marina Artigas; Uruguay)

Produced by El Cielo Cine and written and directed by Artigas, the series follows four friends in their thirties who are forced to share a small apartment. Trapped, broke and unhappy, they try to get their lives on track – and hopefully grow up in the process. Writer-director Marina Artigas is a 20-year industry vet with experience on both sides of the camera, acting in dozens of shorts, films and series and directing the short film “Nélida.”

“Santa Marta” (Writer: Andrés Borda; Colombia)

Another historical tale, this time set in 1976, “Santa Marta” is the story of Carmen, a local police officer who investigates the murder and rape of a British woman. In carrying out her job, Carmen is forced to flee with her son through the labyrinthine underworld of Santa Marta, a city wedged between towering mountains, beautiful beaches, crime and corruption. Based on true events, produced by Rhayuela Films.

“Second life” (Director: Juan Rodriguez-Briso; Spain, Argentina)

Omnicorp Estudio produces this science fiction drama about the fictional company Second Life, which develops technology that can predict the date of death from natural causes of any person. Knowing they have an expiration date changes the way people behave, including protagonist Martina, a single mother from Buenos Aires who learns she only has four years to live. Writer-director Juan Rodriguez-Briso is known for several short films that often play with genre and the well-received documentary ‘Eightteam’.

“South Pole Researchers” (Director: Jota Loyola; Chile)

This documentary series tells the stories of a series of expeditions to the South Pole and the explorers, researchers, environmentalists, pilots, sailors and divers who work to learn more about our planet while protecting its future. Themes such as climate change, environmental conservation, geopolitics and peacekeeping will be the driving force behind this show, produced by Oxitocine.