Ventana Sur to alternate between Uruguay and Argentina through 2026
Ventana Sur, Latin America’s premier audiovisual market, has announced plans to alternate annually between Montevideo, Uruguay, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, through 2026. The decision comes amid Argentina's ongoing financial crisis, which has significantly impacted the country's cultural institutions and the audiovisual industry.
This year marks the market's first edition in Uruguay since its inception in 2009, with the Río de la Plata event running from December 2-6, 2024. The event is co-organized by Cannes’ Marché du Film, Argentina’s National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA), and the Uruguayan Film and Audiovisual Agency (ACAU).
INCAA president Carlos Pirovano, an economist and entrepreneur appointed earlier this year, confirmed the agreement to alternate venues. “Every country wants to have its own market and festival, and it is better to share,” Pirovano explained, emphasizing the region’s reliance on international co-productions.
The economic crisis under Argentinian premier Javier Milei has fueled concerns over diminished public support for the audiovisual sector. Filmmakers have rallied internationally to highlight these challenges, appearing at festivals like Berlin and San Sebastian.
Pirovano noted significant financial reforms at INCAA, transforming a $4 million deficit into a $5 million surplus. However, these changes have included significant cuts, such as reducing staff by more than half and consolidating operations into four buildings, including the ENERC film school, the Cinemateca Nacional, and the Gaumont cinema.
Ventana Sur 2024 will maintain its signature programs, including Primer Corte, Copia Final, Animation, Blood Window, and Maquinitas. New initiatives such as the Latam Series Market, En Breve, Entre Guiones, and Ventana Doc will expand the market’s offerings.
Following the Montevideo edition in 2024, Ventana Sur will return to Buenos Aires in 2025 before alternating back to Uruguay in 2026.