The filmmaker, whose atmospheric, HBF-supported Verano is playing on the festival circuit, feels honoured to be asked to direct the leader for this year’s festival. Both the Hubert Bals Fund and the festival are close to José Luis’ heart: “The IFFR was the first festival to show my films, and that support has always been there. Without the Fund, my chances of making it as a filmmaker would have been very different. So I am really, really grateful to the HBF!”

Copia imperfecta
The final result, titled Copia imperfecta, is a homage to Torres Leiva’s highly praised countryman Raúl Ruiz, who died last summer, and was a personal source of inspiration for Torres Leiva. Copia imperfecta is based on Ruiz’s 1983 film La ville de pirates, the film that inspired Torres Leiva to become a filmmaker: “It was the first thing by Raúl Ruiz I ever saw. It was on an old video tape. The scene in which French actress Anne Alvaro leaves her house, sleepwalking, is still etched in my memory. It is the perfect image for Ruiz’s work: the world of dreams and the surreal, but above all the humour that is so typical of his work.”

Sultry Chile
Verano is the latest film by José Luiz Torres Leiva. Shot using a Hi8 camera, it transports us to the sultry atmosphere of Chile. Although such amateur film formats are used relatively frequently, seldom does this result in such intense beauty as that conjured up by Torres Leiva. His poignant observations on the (un)certainties of love, family and other relationships set in a summer holiday resort in Chile suck us into the mountains of South America. “I can’t wait to present this film to film-lovers in Rotterdam in person”, Jose Luis says. “They are always a great audience. Very curious and open to new experiences.”

Groenlandia
Although his last film has not yet premiered, work is already underway on his next project. Groenlandia, which will be presented at CineMart, takes place in a small village in the deep south of Chile. The story is about a 73-year-old man about to become both a father and a grandfather.

This year’s IFFR is already a particularly special occasion for José Luis . Several images from his film Verano have also been included in the festival’s general leader, a fact he is extremely proud of: “It was a big surprise to me, and a great honour. The general leader this year is really vibrant and colourful. I love it!”