Chile’s 22nd Santiago Film Festival (Sanfic) features nine pics in its Chile Film Competition this year vying for cash prizes in the best film, director and actor categories. Among them, four are debut features, including “Erratics” by Thomas Woodroffe, which competed at the San Sebastian Festival’s New Directors sidebar.

The lineup also features ‘Monguen,’ the swan song of docu filmmaker Antonio Caro, who died unexpectedly a few weeks ago. “We present his film with special affection, as a way of honoring his work and keeping his perspective present within this selection,” said Sanfic artistic director, Carlos Núñez.

“This competition reflects a particularly diverse moment in Chilean cinema, with films that engage with our present through very different languages, territories and generations. There are works that cross between fiction and documentary, new voices alongside filmmakers with established careers, and a strong presence of perspectives emerging outside traditional centers of production,” he pointed out.

“We want Sanfic to be precisely that kind of space: a place where Chilean cinema can connect with its audiences while, at the same time, reaching an international stage.”

Chile’s film industry has never been more robust, with the 2026-2027 industry catalog reporting a 20.5% surge compared to the last season. The catalog was unveiled at the San Sebastián Festival where eight Chilean titles screened across seven sections.

However, the industry is bracing for some belt tightening – and will most likely resort to even more co-productions starting next year – given the upcoming cuts announced by the administration of new President Jose Antonio Kast, who took office in March. Cuts to the Ministry of Culture and various competitive funds for the Arts are forthcoming although the ministry downplayed the cutback, stressing that it would be an overall decrease of 9% next year. However, the Audiovisual Investment Support Fund drops from approximately $586,000 (540 million pesos) in 2026 to $208,000 (192 million pesos) in 2027—a 64% reduction.

Speaking to Variety when the news first broke, Alejandra Garcia of Ronda Cine, producer of “The Meltdown,” Chile’s Oscars submission, said: “The recent budget cuts to culture in Chile are deeply frustrating. It’s difficult to understand why a country’s support for culture is still seen as an expense to be reduced, rather than an investment that should be strengthened.”

The other nine sections of the festival will be announced on Oct. 20.

“Animals” (Andrés Waissbluth Weinstein, Retaguardia Films, Avispa Cine, Frutacina, Chile, Argentina)

In a near future where animals have civil rights, three privileged couples see their lives disrupted by an eerily human quadruped: a sheep running for office, a dog that can sniff out lies and a jealous cat. Produced by Felipe Azúa and Iván Eibuszyc, the Chilean-Argentine Sanfic world premiere was developed through Santiago Lab, BrLab and Guadalajara’s Co-production Meeting, with support from CORFO, Ibermedia and Buenos Aires’ Mecenazgo program.

“Beat” (“Latir,” Patricio Loutit Azócar, Suroeste Films, Reinos Cine, Chile)

Loutit Azócar’s feature debut follows Manuel, a retired university professor who joins a body-percussion workshop during Chile’s 2022 constitutional plebiscite. The experience transforms his life as he confronts his wife’s terminal illness. World premiering at Sanfic, it was produced by Manuel González Llanos and Daniel Rebolledo. The Chilean production received support from the Audiovisual Development Fund in 2024 and participated in Industria FIC Viña’s 2024 business meetings.

“Black Corp,” (“Cuadro Negro,”Carolina Adriazola and José Luis Sepúlveda, Iglo Cine Chile)

Adriazola and Sepúlveda’s film follows Sofía, a young journalist documenting the Chilean army who returns to live with her grandmother after a breakup. She meets María, whose view of the military legacy contrasts with her grandmother’s. Produced by Sofía Paloma Gómez, José Luis Sepúlveda and Carolina Adriazola, the film premiered at Punto de Vista, winning the Grand Prize for Best Film and Youth Jury Award for Best Film. It marks its Latin American premiere.

“Death Brought You Back” (“La muerte te vio volver,” Sebastián Cuevas Barria, Praxia Producciones, Mala Films, Chile; Vert & Bleu Productions, France)

Cuevas Barria’s debut follows Silvia, returning to Chiloé after 30 years to claim her dying mother’s inheritance and confront a disturbing family past. Produced by Catalina Alarcón Reyes, it received support from Chile’s Audiovisual Fund and was developed through Sanfic Lab, CCC and the Lebu Film Festival Lab. Selected for Sanfic’s 2024 Ibero-American WIP, it won the Films en Cours Award at Entrevues Belfort and FECILS’ Sound Award. Participated in Ventana Sur in Montevideo.

“Erratics” (“Bloques Erráticos,” Thomas Woodroffe, La Belle Affaire Productions, Un Puma, Chile, France, Argentina)

Woodroffe’s debut follows filmmaker Lucien Castelnau’s ghost, played by France’s Denis Lavant (“Holy Motors”), released from a glacier after a century into a futuristic Patagonia where technological progress collides with forgotten histories. A Rotterdam CineMart winner produced by Rodrigo Díaz, Pascual Mena and Jérôme Blesson, the Chilean-French-Argentine co-production was developed through La Fabrique Cinéma, TorinoFilmLab, CineMart Darkroom and Sanfic Lab. Selected for San Sebastián’s New Directors, it received Eurimages’ New Lab Outreach Award and support from Chile’s Audiovisual Fund and TorinoFilmLab’s Co-production Fund.

“Floating Population” (“Población Flotante,” Carlos Araya Díaz, Maria una vez, Chile)

Araya Díaz’s docu-fiction hybrid follows a filmmaker reconnecting with a childhood friend through an actor’s voice, revisiting his final days as a bus worker. World premiered at Czech Republic’s Ji.hlava Fest and marking its Latin American premiere at Sanfic, the film was produced by María Paz González and developed through Encuentros Australes at FIC Valdivia, where it won Best Chilean Film of the Future (First Cut) in 2023, plus WIP selections at FIC Viña del Mar.

“Inner Rebellion” (“Rebelión Interior,” Sofía Paloma Gómez Vergara, La Jauría Comunicaciones, Chile)

Gómez Vergara’s documentary revisits Chile’s social uprising through a health brigade treating protesters injured by police repression, connecting present violence with dictatorship-era wounds. World premiering at Sanfic, it was produced by Catalina Alarcón Reyes and developed through FIC Valdivia’s Cine Chileno del Futuro, where it won Best Chilean Film of the Future (Post-production) and the Sonamos Award. It also participated in WIP FicViña, DocsMX and Fidba’s LINK-WIP and received national post-production funding in 2025.

“Monguen” (“Life,” Antonio Caro, Lemuntu Producciones, Totem Producciones, Chile)

The late Caro’s documentary feature follows Fresia, a young Mapuche woman from Alto Biobío who must leave her community to give birth in the city, navigating motherhood between two worlds. World premiering at Sanfic, the film is produced by Michel Toledo and was developed through Conecta CCDoc, Residencia Arca, Nuevas Miradas EICTV, Hot Docs Forum, Cannes Docs at Marché du Film and Encuentros Australes Fic Valdivia.

“The Tiger of the East” (“El Tigre del Este,” Jorge Acevedo, Yareta Films, Queltehue Films, Chile; Estudio Churubusco, Mexico)

Acevedo’s debut pic follows Andrés, a young Chilean muleteer and self-taught musician who leaves his hometown to pursue his dream of becoming a professional musician in Mexico. His wish to gift an original song to Los Tigres del Norte inspires the journey. Produced by Mixie Araya Soler, the Chilean-Mexican co-production premiered at Shanghai Film Festival. Developed since 2018, the project has participated in international labs and markets including Cannes Docs, DocsMX and FiDocs.