Uruguay returns to center stage as host of the most important audiovisual market in Latin America

“Uruguay is a serene, indomitable and reliable country,” said the president of the Uruguayan Film and Audiovisual Agency (ACAU), Facundo Ponce de León, during the opening of Ventana Sur 2024 in Montevideo. His statement reflects the spirit of this historic event, which for the first time lands in the Uruguayan capital. This milestone positions Uruguay as a key destination for the audiovisual industry, combining creativity, first-class infrastructure and strategic public policies.

More than 2,000 film and audiovisual production professionals from all over the world will participate in this historic edition of Ventana Sur, to be held from December 2 to 6, with the presence of delegates from Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, Colombia and other Latin American countries.

With film screenings, pitching sessions, talks, conferences and networking meetings, the event takes place in several emblematic locations in the city, such as the Auditorio Nacional del Sodre, the Teatro Solís and Cinemateca, among other venues in the emblematic neighborhood of Ciudad Vieja. Ventana Sur is 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 have worked together to make this important international event possible.

Uruguay XXI, the investment, export and country brand promotion agency, is taking advantage of Ventana Sur as a strategic platform to showcase the country's growth as an audiovisual production hub. From the National Auditorium of the Sodre, with the Uruguay Audiovisual stand, the agency promotes the sector and organizes key activities, such as networking meetings that connect local and international professionals in search of new collaborations.

The stand has already received various international delegations such as Invest San Pablo, San Pablo Cine and the Film Commission of Costa Rica. It has also been attended by leading figures from the audiovisual sector such as actor Enzo Vogrincic, star of the acclaimed The Snow Society, director Fede Álvarez, who is triumphing in Hollywood with his recent release of “Alien: Romulus”, film producer Daniel Dreifuss, recognized for his work on ‘Nothing New on the Front Line’ (2022), a film that won the Oscar for Best International Film in 2023, producer Mariela Besuievsky, with an outstanding career in Ibero-American cinema, producer among so many other titles of ‘The Secret in Their Eyes’ (2009), winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2010; Spanish director and screenwriter of Uruguayan origin, Alejandro Bazzano, who has directed episodes of successful TV series such as “La casa de papel” and “Mar de plástico” and director and screenwriter Álvaro Brechner, known for films such as “Mal día para pescar” (2009) and “Mr. Kaplan” (2014). Kaplan” (2014). His film “La noche de 12 años” (2018) received multiple awards and was selected as Uruguay's entry for the Oscar for Best Foreign Film.

“We want to demonstrate with Ventana Sur that Uruguay, nestled between two giants, Brazil and Argentina, is also capable of organizing world-class market and industry events,” added Ponce de León in an interview with Variety, underscoring the country's efforts to consolidate itself as a benchmark within the Latin American audiovisual industry.

During the opening day, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou also highlighted the key moment in which Uruguay finds itself. “The structure of our country, our full democracy and institutional framework are vital for the development of sectors such as the audiovisual industry,” he said.

According to the president, the country's ability to adapt to different circumstances has been key to attracting global productions. “I remember that in the middle of the pandemic, Uruguay found the opportunity to continue working and people came from many parts of the world to continue with the productions. Here there is a process of accumulation of many things, of people who have professionalized, who have seen the world, who have adapted it in Uruguayan terms. Anyone, from anywhere in the world, comes to Uruguay and finds a technician, a cameraman, a makeup artist, the actors that the audiovisual sector needs”, he summarized.

The president also recalled the Uruguay Audiovisual Program and expressed that he will continue working to ensure that it will remain in force in 2025 with the incoming government, as a demonstration of the will for continuity and stability that Uruguay offers in terms of public policies.

The mayor of Montevideo, Mauricio Zunino, also expressed the city's commitment to cultural growth and highlighted the city's potential to host this type of event. “For Montevideo it is an enormous pleasure to host this Ventana Sur 2024. The audiovisual sector has enormous potential, which we have seen over the years, particularly in Montevideo (...) We want to welcome all those who came from different places, because Montevideo wants to open its doors to them, because it wants to continue building,” he said.

While the executive director of the Cannes Marché du Film and co-organizer of Ventana Sur, Guillaume Esmiol, celebrated the work done to bring the event to Montevideo. “We are very honored to have the opportunity to celebrate this important market for Latin America in Montevideo, Uruguay. We see that Montevideo is a very dynamic city and I can now say that it was a very good choice to organize this edition here,” he evaluated.

“We are very impressed with the city, with the locations, all very close to each other, something very good for the market. This edition is very important and has allowed us to put Uruguay even more on the map of this industry. I know that this is just the beginning and that we have a great future,” he celebrated.