Abstract

This article is a historical review of the role that the Valdivia International Film Festival has played in the development and promotion of contemporary Chilean cinema. By analyzing its programming and films since its creation in 1994 until 2019, it is possible to establish how the festival has positioned itself as the crucial "site of passage" for a new generation of Chilean filmmakers and producers before and during its consolidation within the global circuit of film festivals. In over 25 years, FICValdivia has experienced significant changes in terms of its editorial line, from an ecological perspective, through an industrial frame, and, recently, under the direction of Raul Camargo, to a deeply film-oriented curatorial line. Thus, FICValdivia has positioned itself as a meeting point for the cinephilia and the Chilean film community.