From filming in the streets of Montevideo<\/strong> to working on Hollywood\u2019s grandest stages, Fede \u00c1lvarez\u2019s journey highlights Uruguay\u2019s<\/strong> potential as a hub for audiovisual talent.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAll the semi-epics I\u2019ve lived through would make zero sense if I hadn\u2019t made them with friends and the possibility of collaborating with people I believe in and have worked with all my life,\u201d the director said during a talk full of humor and emotion at the Ventana Sur market<\/strong>. He is widely regarded as one of Uruguay\u2019s most accomplished filmmakers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u00c1lvarez\u2019s latest film, Alien: Romulus<\/strong><\/em>, is nominated for an Oscar<\/strong> for Best Visual Effects<\/strong>. It competes against major blockbusters such as Dune: Part 2<\/em>, Better Man<\/em>, Planet of the Apes: New Kingdom<\/em>, and Wicked<\/em>. His December 2024 visit to Montevideo coincided with Ventana Sur, held in Uruguay for the first time thanks to an agreement between the Cannes Film Festival\u2019s March\u00e9 du Film, Argentina\u2019s National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA), and Uruguay\u2019s Film and Audiovisual Agency (ACAU). Uruguay XXI<\/strong> contributed to this joint effort by showcasing the brand Uruguay Audiovisual<\/strong> through a dedicated country booth, positioning the nation as a host of excellence and a promoter of its talent and capabilities.<\/p>\n During the event, \u00c1lvarez revisited key moments of his career, from Ataque de P\u00e1nico (Panic Attack)<\/em> <\/strong>\u2014 the viral short film that catapulted him to international recognition \u2014 to high-profile productions like Evil Dead<\/em><\/strong> and Alien: Romulus<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not crazy to try something big from Uruguay\u201d<\/strong> Discussing his influence on young filmmakers, \u00c1lvarez admitted feeling some positive envy for the new generations, who now have tangible examples proving it\u2019s possible to create large-scale films from Uruguay. \u201cWhen I started, I didn\u2019t have those references. My friends and I were the odd ones out,\u201d he recalled, citing influences such as Ricardo Islas, known for genre films like Plenilunio, and Adri\u00e1n Caetano, whose professional path inspired him.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, no one can tell a young director that it\u2019s impossible to make films if you were born in Uruguay. Seeing someone from your city or country who managed to make films on a large scale shows that it\u2019s not crazy to try something big from Uruguay,\u201d<\/strong> he said.<\/p>\n
\nIn an interview with Uruguay XXI<\/strong>, \u00c1lvarez reflected on his role as an \u201cambassador\u201d for the country, the development of the industry, and how his personal and professional history is deeply tied to his Uruguayan identity. \u201cThe truth is, the role is great, and I take it very seriously,\u201d \u00c1lvarez shared. He acknowledged the responsibility of being one of the first faces of Uruguayan cinema many in Hollywood encounter and emphasized the importance of leaving a lasting positive impression. \u201cWe are aware that that first impression matters and is not something to be taken lightly,\u201d he added, stressing the significance of paving the way for future Uruguayan talent.<\/p>\n