New production powerhouse Maquina debuts at San Sebastian Festival
A new era in film production
In a bold move to revolutionize the film and TV series production landscape, Maquina has officially launched at the 72nd San Sebastian Festival. This innovative entity is a collaboration of three seasoned Chilean producers: Augusto Matte of London-based Deptford Film, Úrsula Budnik of Valdivia’s Horamágica, and Fernando Bascuñán of Santiago’s Planta. Their combined expertise aims to streamline and enhance the development and production of international projects.
The vision behind Maquina
“We’ve always wanted to work together,” Matte shared, emphasizing the flexibility and practicality that Maquina offers. The concept is inspired by “machinic assemblages,” a fluid and dynamic system where various elements come together to form a functional whole without a fixed center. This approach allows Maquina to operate as a collaborative network, leveraging the unique strengths and resources of each partner.
Budnik added, “This structure enables us to handle complex, multi-territory projects with greater agility and scale.” Bascuñán echoed this sentiment, highlighting the potential for Maquina to become a key player in the international film landscape.
Projects on the horizon
Maquina’s debut project is “Daemon”, the first feature film by Valeria Hofmann. Known for her award-winning short film ”AliEN0089,” Hofmann delves deeper into themes of digital alienation and identity in this techno-horror set in the Chilean coastal town of Valparaíso. The story follows Liz, a young woman entangled in a virtual relationship with Xin, a digital entity. As reality and technology blur, Liz must choose between her humanity and a dangerously immersive digital world. Watch the trailer for “Daemon”.
Additionally, Maquina is involved in several other promising projects. Bascuñán, along with Horamágica and co-producers Oro Films and Italy’s Dispàrte, is participating in San Sebastian’s WIP Latam program with Nayra Ilic’s “Cuerpo Celeste”. Planta is also presenting “Hard Boiled School” at the San Sebastian Co-Production Forum and co-presenting Federico Luis’ “Simón de la Montaña” at the festival’s Horizontes Latinos sidebar.
The masterminds behind Maquina
Úrsula Budnik
With over two decades of experience, Budnik is a powerhouse in the audiovisual industry. She founded Horamágica in 2003 and has since spearheaded numerous projects in both film and television. Her early work includes producing Sebastián Lelio’s debut feature “La Sagrada Familia” and his follow-up “Navidad”. Budnik has also produced acclaimed TV series such as “Los archivos del cardenal” and “Sitiados”.
Fernando Bascuñán
Bascuñán founded Planta in 2010 and has produced several notable films, including “Simon de la Montaña”, which won the Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Critics’ Week, and Felipe Gálvez’s “The Settlers” (“Los Colonos”), selected for Un Certain Regard at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and Chile’s submission to the Oscars. He also played a pivotal role at Quijote Films, contributing to the production of over 10 films, including “Blanco en blanco” by Theo Court and “Blanquita” by Fernando Guzzoni.
Augusto Matte
Based in London since 2018, Matte has led complex co-productions across Latin America and Europe. His work has been showcased at major film festivals, including Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Venice, and Toronto. Before founding Deptford Film, he was CEO and producer at Jirafa, where he launched the careers of prominent filmmakers and managed multiple international projects, including Francisca Alegria’s “The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future” and Hofmann’s “AliEN0089”. Matte holds an MA in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London.
A promising future
As Maquina sets its sights on closing co-production deals at San Sebastian, the industry watches with anticipation. This new entity, with its innovative approach and seasoned leadership, is poised to make a significant impact on the international film and TV series production landscape. For cinema and TV series enthusiasts, Maquina represents a beacon of creativity and collaboration, promising a future filled with groundbreaking projects and compelling stories.