The emotions that movies deliver are now experienced differently. Without the possibility of freely and unrestrictedly attending a movie theater, the public had to get used to the fact that the screens of computers and mobile devices are the means that transport them through the stories. Adapting to this new global scenario is the goal set by the Lebu International Film Festival for this 2021.
The event, that has more than 20 years of experience in the local and international audiovisual scene, will take place from March 13 to 21 online. Thus, the classic contest of the Biobío Region will be able to continue bringing the best short films of the moment to the world and to the cities of Lebu, Cañete and Concepción.
“We believe that running the festival online is a tremendous opportunity, since we will reach audiences from all over the world, and that indeed before, many of them, could not move and participate in the different activities of the meeting in person, “says Claudia Pino, director of Cine Lebu.
This edition, which has the contribution of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage and the Regional Government of Biobío, will exhibit more than 200 short films that will participate in the competition, in 11 different categories. In addition, more than 15 international feature films, including the films “Campeones” and “Camino”, by the prestigious Spanish director Javier Fesser.
Additionally, traditional activities from other years will be adapted to be executed safely and remotely. Between them, the stop motion technique workshop “18º shaping dreams”, to be held between February 22 and 27, and whose objective is that participating children can make a film that will be shown on the opening day. On the other hand, between April 12 and 17, the Women’s Workshop will be held in Lebu, which seeks that women not linked to the cinema can learn different topics of the industry.
Luxury guests
The virtuality of this edition will not prevent the presence of important personalities from the world of cinema. The jury of the short film contest will include the outstanding actors Paulo Brunetti and Loreto Araya; the singer Nicole, the director Rodrigo Sepúlveda, the producer Javier Sanfeliú, the Mexican director Carlos Carrera (“The crime of Father Amaro”), Francisco González (musician, ex-Lucybell) and the Mexican documentary filmmaker María Inés Roque, among others. This year, in addition, CINELEBU will honor two important women from the world of Cinema with the lifetime achievement award.
As in other versions, a selection of the best shorts from two invited festivals will be broadcast. These are Festigol, an event that brings together short films related to soccer, and the Notodo Film Festival, focused on Spanish audiovisual creation.
Promotion of creation
CINELEBU 2021 includes a varied program of activities for audiovisual promotion. Among them, the now classic LAB, instances where professionals with recognized trajectory in the film industry will advise various filmmakers on topics such as Marketing Strategies for the US Market and Directing Actors for Film.
At the same time, there will be a new version of Filma Biobío, a program that invites you to produce a short film that must be recorded in the cities of Lebu, Cañete or Concepción. On this occasion, due to the health situation, the Cine Lebu organization will make available to the participants a series of images and archive recordings so that they can edit the shorts from their own homes. By last, During the days of the festival there will be different Master Classes open to participants of the competition and to all public, free of charge. Registration for these activities ends on February 20.
Also remember that CINELEBU He is a qualifier for the Oscars of the Hollywood Academy, since 2018 in three categories: International Animation, National Fiction and International Fiction. The programmatic grid also considers transmissions of different activities by local radio stations (Millaray and Kapital) and by the regional cable TV provider Mundo Pacífico, as well as, if sanitary conditions allow it, the showing of films at the Drive-in cinema in Lebu (Parque del Carbón de Lebu), Cañete (Fundo Anique) and Concepción (BioBio Theater Parking Lot).
“We want to continue to be a benchmark for short films in Chile and abroad, and to promote new and experienced filmmakers, offering industry opportunities, visibility and contacts to filmmakers and their Chilean and foreign works. We also hope that all the camaraderie, collaboration and friendship that were generated in the previous festivals can feel the same in this new online format. And, above all, we hope to continue bringing cinema and culture to all people ”, says Claudia Pino.
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