● A record selection of three projects in the MeetMarket in a single year, Maite Alberdi’s participation, and an intensive schedule of meetings and industry activities consolidated the presence of Chilean documentary filmmaking at one of the world’s most important documentary markets.
● «Chile’s participation in Sheffield this year set a very important precedent and strengthened the country’s image as a key player in international audiovisual production,» said Diego Pino, Deputy Director of Chiledoc.
Chile’s participation at Sheffield DocFest 2026 concluded on a highly positive note, reinforcing the growing international recognition of Chilean documentary filmmaking at one of Europe’s leading industry events. The historic selection of three Chilean-involved projects for the MeetMarket, Maite Alberdi’s masterclass, and an active networking agenda positioned Chile as the Latin American country with the strongest visibility at this year’s edition of the festival.
For Diego Pino, Deputy Director of Chiledoc, these achievements represent a milestone for the sector’s international presence. «Chile’s participation in Sheffield this year set a very important precedent. We achieved a strong presence throughout the industry’s activities, earning recognition from professionals from different parts of the world, particularly Europe and the United States. This not only helped promote the quality and diversity of Chilean documentary filmmaking, but also strengthened Chile’s image as a key player in international audiovisual production.»
The projects The Weight of Snow, directed by Matías Bolla and produced by Carolina Sorensen and Cristian Valle Celedón, an Australia–Chile co-production selected for the Rough Cut Presentation; Inside the Biggest Case on Earth, directed by Renan Flumian and produced by Giancarlo Nasi, a Brazil–Chile co-production developed by Quijote Films; and Isabel Allende: The Documentary, a U.S.–Chile co-production directed by River Finlay and produced by Julie Parker Benello, River Finlay, Jeff Zimbalist, Natalia de la Cuesta, José Isla, Felipe Isla, and Daniel Castell, all took part in meetings with potential partners, funds, distributors, and international platforms, opening new opportunities for their development and circulation. This marked the largest Chilean presence ever at the MeetMarket in a single edition of the festival, reflecting the strength and diversity of Chilean documentary filmmaking.
In this regard, Diego Pino Anguita emphasized the importance of maintaining participation in these international platforms: «The continuity of these market participation programs is essential, as they provide concrete tools to build networks, generate opportunities for co-production, distribution, and financing, and position Chile as a key hub for cinematic creation in Latin America and around the world.»
The delegation also strengthened ties with the international industry through the Chiledoc Co-Production Coffee, an event organized by Chiledoc that brought together Chilean and international producers to foster new partnerships and promote future co-productions. In addition, acclaimed filmmaker Maite Alberdi shared her experience during the masterclass The Art of Storytelling, moderated by Festival Artistic Director Raúl Niño Zambrano. She also presented her latest feature film, A Son of His Own, produced by Netflix, to festival audiences.
The Chilean delegation also included filmmakers and producers selected through the International Markets Participation Support Program, promoted by the Audiovisual Arts and Industry Council (CAIA) of Chile’s Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage. Four producers and their respective companies were selected to represent the country at Sheffield DocFest, where they presented a portfolio of projects at different stages of development, production, and post-production. For the first time, they also had the opportunity to publicly present their companies to international producers.
One of the delegates, Isidora Fajardo, producer at Cubho Audiovisual, highlighted the importance of this opportunity for her company: «This was our first time attending Sheffield and the MeetMarket as Cubho Audiovisual, and it truly exceeded our expectations. Thanks to Chiledoc’s support, we were able to hold meetings and encounters that were extremely valuable in increasing the visibility of both our projects and our production company. We are leaving with new knowledge gained from the panels we attended, the pitches, and the films we watched. It has been a wonderful experience that will inspire the development of new projects while strengthening those we are already working on.»
With this successful participation at Sheffield DocFest, Chiledoc continues to consolidate its long-term strategy for the internationalization of Chilean documentary filmmaking, strengthening the presence of its creators in the world’s leading audiovisual markets and creating new opportunities for Chilean stories to reach increasingly wider audiences.
About Chiledoc
Chiledoc promotes Chilean documentary talent and its films and series worldwide. Our mission is to foster the growth of the documentary sector through strategic promotion, the creation and strengthening of professional networks, and the encouragement of collaborative practices. We are a collective force.
Chiledoc is a public-private initiative supported by ProChile, an agency of Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Chilean Documentary Corporation (CCDoc).
Press Contact:
periodista@ccdoc.cl
internacional@chiledoc.cl
internacional@chiledoc.cl
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