Sanfic 6 - Santiago Festival Internacional de Cine – 17 al 23 de Agosto 2010

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Recent work: Jaime de Nevares: Ultimo viaje (1995), Tinta roja (1998), H.I.J.O.S.: El alma en dos (2002), Meykinof (2005)

This new documentary of the filmmaker and anthropologist, Carmen Guarini, debuting in the Argentine Competition at Bafici, explores the works of the Argentinean painter, Carlos Gorriarena. This takes place when they both will be forever estranged from one another after the death of the artist, at the age of 81, in 2007, and he will no longer be around to explain, replace or modify it. And this all becomes very relevant, since though he is one of the most important painters of modern times in his country, not many were able to have contact with his works when he was still alive. Gorriarena, who passed away in the middle of this documentary project, was a bohemian Peronist, an anti-establishment character, sarcastic and provocative, who always shied away from being labeled as a political painter. All this said, Guarini’s work is a unique opportunity to learn about this artist and his legacy, as well as the mark that he made on those who had the chance to be within his circle.

Lausanne, Suiza, 1975
Recent Work: Este es su primer largometraje.

Lionel Baier not only wrote and directed this enjoyable film, he also acted in it, portraying… Lionel, a young critic that works on the radio and has a happy relationship with Serge, until he happens to find out that his family could be from Poland; from that moment on, along with his sister, Lucie -portrayed by Natacha Koutchournov, the filmmaker’s fetish actress- they start traveling towards Eastern Europe, searching for their roots and the proof that confirms their Polish origin. The group of situations and characters that they will find along the way in Varsovia includes traveling in a stolen car, with fake passports and real problems; also a fictitious marriage, a car chase in Slovenia and a Cracovian student. Thanks to the eccentric, fun and always surprising adventure of the two siblings, Baier received his first nomination for best fiction film in the Swiss Film Prize.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Beirut, Líbano
Recent work: Este es su primer largometraje.

Shown at festivals such as Toronto, Rome and Rotterdam, this debut of young director Dima El-Horr takes place in Lebanon, on the day that the country traditionally celebrates its independence. Three women that have never seen each other before share a bus ride from Beirut to a prison located in a far-away area, where they will visit their imprisoned men. On the way, going through an arid landscape and after a series of incidents and unexpected situations, the trip will slowly transform into the quest for these three women’s own independence. Mixing absurdity with actual politics, the filmmaker is revealed as a new, powerful, and critical voice within the Middle Eastern film panorama. Also, one of the stars in the film is Hiam Abbas, an actress that was a revelation in titles such as The Syrian bride and Paradise now, and has worked with directors such as Gitai, Spielberg, Becker, McCarthy and Jarmusch, among others.