21st Ovalle Film Festival Unveils Schedule: A Celebration of Regional Identity and Cinematic Arts

El Ciudadano

Original article: 21° Festival de Cine de Ovalle revela su cartelera: Una celebración de la identidad regional y el séptimo arte

The Municipal Theatre of Ovalle is set to host the 21st edition of the Ovalle Film Festival (FCO), taking place from Wednesday, November 26, to Saturday, November 29. The festival will feature a program that showcases the best of national and international cinema, along with discussions and meet-and-greets with prominent figures in the cinematic world.

With a history spanning over two decades, the Ovalle Film Festival has established itself as one of the most significant cultural events in northern Chile, providing audiences with the opportunity to enjoy outstanding films while discovering new local and international voices.

This year, notable guests include renowned names such as Catalina Saavedra Pérez, Tomás Alzamora, Paulina Cortés Núñez, and Daniela López Quintero, who will participate in various activities and dialogue sessions, sharing their experiences with the audience.

The red carpet will roll out on Wednesday, November 26, with the screening of the winning footage from the «Hazla corta con un corto» competition hosted by the Municipal Cultural Corporation of Ovalle (CCMO), featuring the short film «PIE» created by students from Santa María School in Ovalle.

The kickoff will continue with «Denominación de Origen,» directed by Tomás Alzamora, an acclaimed film that blends humor and social critique to narrate the story of a town struggling to regain its pride after losing the title for the best longaniza in Chile.

The festival will proceed on November 27 with «Yana Wara,» directed by Tito and Óscar Catacora, a powerful film brought to the festival through the collaboration between the CCMO and the Embassy of Peru. This will be accompanied by «La Ola,» directed by Oscar winner Sebastián Lelio, marking the second day of the festival.

On Friday, November 28, «Los Tortuga,» by Belén Funes, will transport viewers to Barcelona, where a young Chilean woman faces life-changing decisions.

Additionally, reflecting its Latin American character, the festival will include a special program from CINE UMBRAL of Arequipa, Peru, titled «Arequipa through a Female-Led Itinerary,» along with a section presenting the short films «¿Por qué no contestas?» by Andrea Alvarado and «El toro habla del todo» by Cecilia Cerdeña, along with the documentary feature «Bajo la influencia» by Karina Cáceres.

The festival will conclude on Saturday, November 29, with the presentation of «Drácula: A Love Tale,» directed by French filmmaker Luc Besson, a romantic and tragic reinvention of the legendary vampire, paired with «Zafari,» from Mariana Rondón, a social metaphor exploring inequality and urban collapse in a small zoo.

Ifman Huerta Saavedra, Executive Director of the Municipal Cultural Corporation of Ovalle, commented on the festival’s significance for the local and regional artistic industry: «It reflects the province’s identity on the big screen, while also offering an opportunity for regional talent to meet with the best cinema from Chile and around the world. We invite the community to be a part of this grand celebration because cinema, at its core, is a deeply communal and transformative act.»

Thus, the Municipal Cultural Corporation of Ovalle (CCMO) presents a lineup blending local, national, and international identity, making the 21st edition of FCO a significant meeting point for filmmakers.

This project is funded by the Competitive Funds of the Regional Government of Coquimbo 2025.