Manuela Martelli: From Cannes to Sundance
- casfreelancer
- Jan 7, 2016
- 1 min read
Chilean actress Manuela Martelli’s first passion was directing. Now, after many years starring films and TV series in her natal country and abroad, Martelli’s career has come full circle. Martelli directs “Marea de Tierra” (Land Tides), a 15-minute-long drama competing at Sundance in the International Narrative Short Film category. The short premiered at the Festival de Cannes last year. “Land Tides” centers on Laura, a heartbroken teenager who is vacationing with friends in Chile’s southern islands. While wandering lonely seascapes, she encounters a group of women seaweed collectors.
A Chilean-French co-production, “Marea de Tierra” was done through a annual Cannes program for emerging filmmakers from one country. Chile was selected in 2015. As part of that initiative, Martelli was partnered up with another filmmaker, Amirah Tajdin, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya and grew up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In addition to co-directing, they both wrote the screenplay for “Land Tides.” This is Martelli’s second directed short. Her directorial debut was with “Apnea,” a 7-minute-long family drama about a little girl and her nanny. The filmmaker’s official website lists a third short in development. Martelli is a well-known actress in Chile. She began acting at age 17, starring “B-Happy” (2003) by famed director Gonzalo Justiniano. Her other films include “Machuca” (2004) and “Il Futuro,” which competed at Sundance in 2013. The latter won Martelli a best actress award at the Huelva Latin American Film Festival and another nomination to the Chile’s Altazor Awards. –CESAR ARREDONDO Check out Martelli's interview in Spanish with Chile’s radio show “Otro Cuento de Cooperativa.”
Comentarios