- The importance of film festivals for society and the audiovisual sector was discussed at the panel.
The third session in the Voces Cine panel series took place this last Friday October 11, with the title Film Festivals in Latin America: Why do they matter? Present at the activity were researcher, and social anthropologist María Paz Peirano, programmer, and director of the Transcinema Festival, John Campos, Argentinean filmmaker Celina Murga, and FICViña director Claudio Pereira. FICValdivia programming coordinator, and programmer Guillermo Olivares moderated the conversation, which analyzed the relevance of film festivals for cities, and for the audiovisual sector at large.
In her remarks, María Paz Peirano made an analysis from the perspective of the history of cinema houses, indicating that part of their importance is that they become an instance for audience development. Festivals are also opportunities for knowledge exchange in the audiovisual sector, as well as a space for social articulation.
Programmer John Campos explained cinema’s relevance as an avenue for cultural resistance, and how festivals help keep it alive. Meanwhile, Argentine filmmaker Celina Murga spoke about her experience regarding the festivals that take place in provinces. She detailed the case of Entre Ríos, where, despite not having cinema schools, curiosity and interest regarding the audiovisual arts has been driven, along with strengthening tourism in the area.
For his part, Claudio Pereira shared the history of FICViña, where he has been artistic director since 2015. The event has contributed both to local cinema history, and to Chilean tradition, being the oldest festival running today.
Voces Cine is a series of gatherings, and debates around cinema, in artistic terms, as an industry, and in its role in, and contribution to, society. Each year, important filmmakers, critics, cultural administrators, and other personalities arrive in Valdivia, to add to the conversation with their experiences, and perspectives, with the purpose of stimulating reflection. Voces Cine 2019 ends today, Saturday, with the panel entitled Chilean Cinema: How do they see us from abroad?, with the participation of noted international programmers. It begins at 12pm, at the CECs Tent, free of charge.
