Ventana Sur 2025 Set to Boost Attendance and Expand Focus

The 2025 edition of Ventana Sur returns to Buenos Aires, promising a significant increase in attendance and new program sections aimed at revitalizing the Latin American film market. Under the leadership of Ralph Haiek, former president of the INCAA, the event is projected to attract 3,000 accredited participants, including 500 buyers and sales agents. This marks a 30% increase from the 2,300 professionals who attended last year’s event in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Haiek, now serving as Ventana Sur’s executive director, is joined by co-directors Guillaume Esmiol, executive director of the Marché du Film, and Gisella Previtali, president of Uruguay’s ACAU. He emphasized the importance of this year’s event, stating, “The film industry is undergoing a profound global shift that is straining its profitability,” citing challenges such as declining audiences and increasing post-pandemic costs. Haiek views Ventana Sur 2025 as a crucial platform for enhancing financing, international distribution, and regional industry growth.

Since its inception in 2009, Ventana Sur has established itself as a vital hub for the Latin American film industry. The event faced uncertainty last year due to Argentina’s economic crisis, which led to its rebranding as Ventana Sur Río de la Plata and relocation to Uruguay. The response to the Montevideo edition was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the need for sustained public support in fostering job creation and generating foreign currency through film and audiovisual content.

Previtali remarked on the event’s collaborative spirit, stating, “Ventana Sur confirmed that our ecosystems are complementary and that cooperation creates value that transcends any individual country.” She added that Uruguay will host the 2026 edition of the event, further solidifying the partnership between regional film industries.

New initiatives in this year’s program include VS Tech, which expands upon the previous video-game section, featuring 10 projects that explore technological innovations in film production and distribution. Another addition is the WBD + Mundoloco CGI | Launchpad Series, aimed at accelerating the development of regional animated series. The event will also introduce Anfibia Pro, a platform designed to promote literary adaptations through workshops and collaboration among authors, publishers, and producers.

The VS Animation! Pitching Sessions will showcase seven feature films and seven series projects, along with five works-in-progress selected in collaboration with the Annecy festival. The VS Fantastic section, formerly known as Blood Window, will present 13 projects, featuring works like Paul Urkijo’s entry for Sitges and Francisco Pavanetto’s winning project from Pulsar Santa Fe 2025.

The eighth VS Proyecta will spotlight 12 debut and sophomore features, while the sections Primer Corte and Copia Final will showcase six features each that are in late-stage post-production. An additional Films in Progress sidebar will highlight eight titles available to accredited professionals.

Esmiol noted the market’s growing influence, stating, “Its impact is clear in the steady rise in international attendance and the partnerships forged between Latin American and global professionals.” He added that many films presented at Ventana Sur go on to secure international deals and festival placements.

Significant projects that began their journey at Ventana Sur include David Casademunt’s film, pitched in the Blood Window program, which went on to a global release on Netflix, and Flávia Neves’s work, which premiered at the 2022 Berlinale. The marketplace has also served as a launchpad for films that gained recognition at major festivals, including the 2024 Berlinale Panorama Audience Award winner.

Previtali concluded with optimism about the future of Ventana Sur, stating, “The Montevideo experience was extremely positive, and we are working to consolidate this alternation as a strategic opportunity for the entire region.” This year’s edition not only highlights the resilience of the Latin American film industry but also sets the stage for a promising future in international collaboration and innovation.