FilmNation Entertainment has boarded “La Ola (The Wave),” a musical about the 2018 student feminist protests in Chile directed by Sebastián Lelio. The company is launching worldwide sales outside of Latin America at Cannes, where the film will premiere in the Cannes Premieres section.
Lelio won the Oscar for best international feature for “A Fantastic Woman.” His other credits include both the Chilean film “Gloria” and its English-language remake “Gloria Bell,” as well as “Disobedience” and “The Wonder.”
“La Ola” stars newcomers Daniela López, Avril Aurora, Lola Bravo and Paulina Cortés. It is produced by Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Rocío Jadue and Lelio. Fabula also produced the movie, which is co-financed by Participant and Fremantle. The screenplay was written by Lelio, Manuela Infante, Josefina Fernández and Paloma Salas. “La Ola” was shot on location in Chile over nine weeks.
The film follows Julia, a music student drawn into the growing student movement at her university. It features original compositions, collaboratively created by 17 Chilean musicians, including Ana Tijoux, Camila Moreno and Javiera Parra, accompanied by award-winning composer Matthew Herbert, who worked on “Disobedience” and “Gloria Bell.” The musical numbers are choreographed by acclaimed choreographer Ryan Heffington, who has worked with international artists such as Sia, Florence and the Machine, and Christine and the Queens, in addition to his involvement in the series “Euphoria” and “Transparent” and the films “Tick, Tick…Boom!” and “Baby Driver.”
FilmNation recently backed “Anora,” which won best picture at this year’s Oscars, as well as “Conclave,” an acclaimed thriller that was nominated for several Academy Awards.
