The most important audiovisual market in Latin America culminated its agenda of activities and counted on Uruguay XXI as a strategic partner for the international promotion of the sector.
The sixteenth edition of Ventana Sur closed in Montevideo with highly positive results, bringing together more than 2,300 professionals from 50 countries. In a historic event that marked the first time this market was held in Uruguay, the country not only proved to be an excellent host, but also reaffirmed its position as a reliable and creative destination for the global audiovisual industry.
Uruguay XXI, the investment, export and country image promotion agency, played a key role during the event with activities that highlighted the country’s potential in this industry. One of the highlights was the location presentation panel, moderated by Omaira Rodríguez, the agency’s Creative Industries specialist. This space allowed local and international delegations to learn about the offer of locations in eight departments – Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha, Treinta y Tres, Salto, Paysandú and Colonia – highlighting the work of territorial articulation developed in recent years.
“In each of the departments there is a very interesting offer and very nice work being done to support the audiovisual sector in Uruguay,” said Rodriguez.
Uruguay XXI also had a Uruguay Audiovisual stand where the benefits of filming in Uruguay were exhibited, as well as film and video game catalogs. This space received official delegations from countries such as Brazil and Costa Rica and housed five location offices for the departments of Salto, Paysandú, Treinta y Tres, Maldonado and Rocha (Montevideo, Canelones and Colonia set up their own stands). The space also hosted the Uruguayan Association of Film Producers and Filmmakers (Asoprod) and the Association of Festivals and Exhibitions.
The Shoot the Book section, in which Uruguay XXI also collaborated, connected the publishing world with the audiovisual industry. During this meeting, Uruguayan publishers presented selected works with high potential to be adapted for the big screen. The initiative counted with the participation of international jurors and mentors who guided the participants in identifying the cinematographic potential of their works.
Within the framework of the Maquinitas section, Uruguay also shined in the video game sector, with three local productions receiving awards. Souls Tree by Dubious Loop won the award for Best Gameplay, while Prócer Zombie: Redención by The Silva Bros was recognized for its character design. Meanwhile, Fading Luna by Luminara Games won two distinctions: Best Narrative and Fantastic Pavilion, securing a place at the prestigious Cannes Festival.
The event was also a platform to project the future of Uruguayan cinema. Five fiction feature films and six documentaries that promise to position Uruguay on the international film scene were presented at the Cinemateca Uruguaya and the Nelly Goitiño Auditorium. In addition, in the pitching space exclusively for Uruguayan projects, innovative proposals such as El río por mis venas and Montevideo Vampiro were shown.
During the days, figures such as Fede Álvarez, Álvaro Brechner and Mariela Besuviesky shared their experiences in talks and conferences, inspiring local and international professionals. In addition, the Uruguayan Film and Audiovisual Agency (ACAU) presented encouraging data on the sector, announcing that 2024 will be the best year for Uruguayan film consumption in the last decade.
Ventana Sur was the result of an agreement between the Marché du Film – Cannes Film Festival, the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts of Argentina (INCAA) and the Uruguayan Film and Audiovisual Agency (ACAU), who worked together to make this important international event possible.
With the organization of Ventana Sur, Uruguay proved that it can be a point of reference in the region for the audiovisual industry. This edition consolidated the country as a strategic hub and made it clear that the future of film, animation, video games and literature in Uruguay is full of opportunities.
