The origins

A group of filmmakers of Atacama worked for foreign producers covering the rescue of the 33 miners trapped in the San José pit, an experience that gave rise to the idea of creating a film commission which would promote regional landscapes, workers, and logistic services.

First productions

We started with the production of locations for the Jirafa’s documentary “Pánico: la banda que buscó el sonido debajo” (“Pánico: the Band that Met the Sound Beneath”); and for the Forastero and Cinestación filmmakers’ fiction movie “De jueves a domingo” (“From Thursday to Sunday”), which won the film festivals of Rotterdam in 2012, Valdivia, and other important events.

CORFO’s Support

In the year 2011, we obtained the support of CORFO Atacama through the programme “Sácale jugo a tus ideas” (“Make the most of your ideas”), which allowed us to meet and receive advice from the regional film commissions of Valdivia, Araucanía, and Valparaíso.

First Meeting of Chilean Film Commissions

We participated in the first meeting of Chilean film commissions which was developed during the Cinema Festival of Antofagasta. There, we get to know the job of a film commission.

Meeting with the Film Commission Chile

In Santiago, we met the exdirector of the Film Commission Chile, Joyce Zylberber, to know each other and receive advice about our job.

First Regional Training

With the support of Sercotec Atacama, through a strengthening programme for trade unions and a seed money fund, we obtained our legal status and created the Corporación Pro Patrimonio, Cultura y Turismo de Atacama (Corporation for Patrimony, Culture, and Tourism of Atacama) to support the work, sustainability, and representation of the Atacama Film Commission.

Then, with the technical advisory of Rodrigo Ardiles, a film commissioner of the Region of Araucanía, we developed a workshop for representatives of SERCOTEC, PROCHILE, SERNATUR, ATA, and for regional filmmakers and entrepreneurs.

Second National Meeting of Film Commissions

We participated in the second national meeting of film commissions during the film festival Antofadocs., creating alliances with the regions of Antofagasta, Valparaíso, Valdivia, and Araucanía.

Public Welfare Project

We filed to CORFO a Public Welfare Project named “Industria creativa, una oportunidad para el turismo sustentable” (“Creative Industry, an Opportunity for Sustainable Tourism”) whose goal was to develop those economic sectors in the frame of a strategic alliance coordinated by the Film Commission. The project did not obtain economic support, but we are still enhancing it and looking for funding.

Creation of FilminChile

Together with filmmakers and regional producers, we created a non-profit organization, called FilminChile, to advise the regions, acquire certifications, training and national and international networks. We have the support of AFCI and LMGI.

Support of the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Patrimony (MCAP)

Since 2016 we are developing the project “Comisión Fílmica de Atacama, una ventana al mundo” (“Atacama Film Commission, a Window to the World”), financed by the MCAP and the Corporation for Patrimony, Culture, and Tourism of Atacama, whose main activities include workshops with the AFCI-certified Film Commissioner Bettina Bettati, and the TRAMA’s Cultural Manager Carolina Loren.

Atacama Region, Film Friendly

With the presence of the Minister of Culture Ernesto Ottone, the first Film Friendly Agreement was signed by the ARMA and the MCAP, which was intended to speed up the creation of filmmaking policies and transform the Region of Atacama in a cinematographic development area. We worked in the collection of audiovisual data, professionals, emblematic locations, and logistic services; and we are designing regional tailor-made filmmaking protocols. The Film Friendly Agreement sowed the seed for future audiovisual projects in alliance with the other nine communes of the region and will allow us to become an engine of a collective economy, based on the audiovisual sector and special interest tourism.

Third National Meeting of Chileans Film Commissions

We participated in the third national meeting of Chileans films commissions during the Valdivia Film Festival (FICV), occasion in which a review was made of the regional projects co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, MCAP.

First National Meeting of Film Friendly Municipalities and Commissions

In Valparaíso, we joined this important meeting of Chileans Film Commissions and Municipalities subscribing Film Friendly Agreements, to know our progress, needs, and successful ways to strongly support the national and international audiovisual industry.

We developed the first Cinematographic Guide for Atacama, with the support of an FNDR. and organization CORPRO. And the first Promotional Video, was made with the support of the producer Dinamo Films and Amonites Producciones

Work in process

Creation of a Regional Directory of Audiovisual Professionals & Creation of a website and social networks.