● Chilean documentary Burning Daddy has received a new international recognition after winning the TransPerfect Media Post-Production Award at the Chile & Colombia Docs in Progress Showcase at Cannes Docs. The film is directed by Tana Gilbert and produced by Paola Castillo, Dirk Manthey, Carolina Astudillo, and Wendy Espinal.
● The partnership between both countries was considered a success by the event organizers, especially since the two Colombian projects were also recognized with major awards. In total, three out of the four showcased projects received prizes during the awards ceremony.
The award was presented during this important industry platform, which brings together documentary projects from both countries that are in advanced editing stages, offering a key space for international visibility before sales agents, festivals, distributors, and audiovisual industry professionals.
Paola Castillo and Tana Gilbert alongside the representative of TransPerfect Media.
Pierre-Alexis Chevit, Head of Cannes Docs, reflected on the Chilean documentary after the awards ceremony, stating that “there is an incredibly important and precious documentary film tradition in Chile that must be protected and supported. At Cannes Docs, this is exactly what we are trying to do by helping continue its international visibility and projection.”
The selected Chilean projects were The Boy Girl and the Gothik Whale and Burning Daddy. The latter stood out for its powerful emotional and narrative proposal. The jury stated that “through an intimate and deeply personal perspective, the film explores family trauma through a highly creative visual, artistic, and narrative approach, expanding the possibilities of cinematic form. With an original, honest, and courageous voice, it confronts us with an issue that continues to reveal the deep scars that have oppressed — and still oppress — women through multiple forms of violence.”
Burning Daddy marks the second feature film by director Tana Gilbert, who returns to this showcase alongside producer Paola Castillo. The duo had previously participated in the showcase in 2022 with Malqueridas. On that occasion, the project won the Alpha Panda Award and later continued an успешный international run, receiving three major awards at the 2023 Venice International Critics’ Week.
In Burning Daddy, Gilbert explores an intimate story centered on Camila and her family as they reconstruct the image of their father — a charismatic con artist — through photographs, court records, and memories fragmented by violence. The documentary reflects on family memory, inherited wounds, and the complex emotional relationships shaped by absence and abuse.
For Paula Ossandón, Director of Chiledoc, “Burning Daddy explores a theme that resonates across different territories because of its universality: dysfunction and violence within the family home. But it does so with a fresh perspective and strong aesthetic and narrative choices that make it an attractive documentary with great international potential.”
The recognition received at Cannes Docs provides specialized support for the film’s post-production stage, strengthening its possibilities for circulation and international exposure. Regarding the award, Chilean producer Paola Castillo stated: “We are very grateful for this award. Post-production is a key phase in filmmaking. We are also deeply thankful to Chiledoc, Proimágenes Colombia, and especially Cannes Docs, which is truly an incredible space for networking and, above all, for building community.” She also added that “being awarded in an instance like this greatly helps the film’s international visibility and is also proof that the film’s perspective is reaching global audiences.”
The distinction also reaffirms the remarkable moment Chilean documentary filmmaking is experiencing in major industry spaces and international markets, consolidating the presence of new auteur voices within the global non-fiction circuit. For her part, Tana Gilbert stated that participating in the Marché du Film has been extremely relevant for the film due to the large number of professionals who gather there every year. She added that “being here has given us the opportunity to strengthen key alliances, as we are currently seeking premiere opportunities and developing strategies for the documentary’s international visibility.”
Reflecting on this year’s participation overall, Paula Ossandón noted that “participating once again in the Marché du Film through such a carefully curated and efficient platform as Cannes Docs has been extremely fruitful for Chilean documentary cinema. We have received awards for the projects presented there in every edition, but above all, it is a fundamental space for networking and international visibility for our non-fiction productions.”
Two Countries That Shined Together for the First Time
The joint Chile-Colombia Showcase was considered both a wise decision and a complete success, as three of the four participating documentaries received awards during the ceremony. The two Colombian documentaries, Antipodal Dreams and Chilapa´s Girl, were honored amid the excitement of everyone present.
Cannes Docs Director Pierre-Alexis Chevit commented on the results of this unprecedented Chilean-Colombian Showcase, describing it as “a great success, given that three out of the four projects won awards today.”
Juanita Onzaga, director of Antipodal Dreams, referred both to her participation at the Marché du Film and to the prize received: “I am infinitely grateful for the opportunity to be here because I have had very important conversations that will help advance the film, both financially and creatively. On the other hand, the award is a tremendous contribution to my film because it consists of legal consulting from now until the end of the distribution process.”
Meanwhile, Juana Lotero, director of Chilapa´s Girl, spoke about the importance of participating in Cannes Docs and in this Showcase, stating that “it allows us to connect with professionals from all over the world and gives visibility to South American cinema, which carries great strength and powerful messages that deserve to be heard. I am also very happy and grateful to have received the Documentary Association Award, which will allow us to distribute the film in North America.”
Paola Castillo, Juana Lotero, Tana Gilbert and Juanita Onzaga.
internacional@chiledoc.cl
@copyright Corporación Chilena del Documental CCDoc
