London Film Festival: “1976” triumphed as best first film

The movie of intrigue “1976″, by the Chilean Manuela Martelli, was this Sunday awarded the “Sutherland” award for best first film at the London Film Festival.

The film portrays how in the year of the title a woman, Carmen, witnesses a forced disappearance while renovating her beach house, which later leads her to wonder if she is not being watched by the dictatorial regime of Augusto Pinochet.

Martelli, an actress in films such as “Machuca”, makes her successful debut behind the camera with a work that was described by the jury of the festival organized by the British Film Institute as “captivating”.

”’1976′ is a historical film that is chillingly relevant to our time. Husbands, friends and neighbors are gradually radicalized under the threat of violence and a growing atmosphere of paranoia.noted the jury before praising Martelli’s “concise and refined” style.

It is, in his opinion, “a remarkable debut” as director of the Chilean, 39 years old. Martelli showed himself “honored” for receiving the award, “it means a lot” for her, according to a statement from the contest.

”I spent many years working on this film and I want to dedicate it to the entire team and to my grandmother, who was an inspiration”, said the director.

The award for best film in competition went to “Corsage”, by Austrian filmmaker Marie Kreuzer, which narrates the anguish suffered by Empress Elisabeth of Austria at the end of the 19th century being relegated to a decorative role at court.

The jury especially recognized the “sublime interpretation” of Vicky Krieps as empress, which was already distinguished at the last Cannes Festival.

The awards thus close eleven days of screenings in which, among other works, the world premiere of “Pinocchio” by Guillermo del Toro could be seen.