The capital served as the first stop on the national tour featuring the winning films from the 4th International Sea Film Festival, offering a dedicated Q&A session with the filmmaker.
With an audience exceeding 80 attendees, a special screening of «Sincronía» (2024)—the winning feature film of the 4th Sea International Film Festival (MarCineFest in spanish)—took place this Wednesday, followed by a live panel discussion with director Caro Bloj.
Organized by the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO in spanish) and the Oceans Institute at the University of Concepción (UdeC in spanish), with support from UdeC’s Santiago Office, the event launched the national tour of the festival's award-winning films across various Chilean cities following their festival debut.
A large and engaged audience gathered at the UdeC Santiago Auditorium in Providencia, where the screening was followed by a dynamic dialogue between the director and the public, with conversations continuing well after the official program concluded.
The director of the Universidad de Concepción Santiago Office, Marcela Angulo, highlighted the strong public response: “Many people joined us, drawn by the opportunity to interact with the filmmaker herself and learn about the inspirations and elements behind a film depicting two women with distinct yet deeply meaningful connections to the sea".
"It was a wonderful opportunity to bring the Sea Film Festival to Santiago. We know this is the first of several screenings planned across the country, and hosting this opening event was an absolute pleasure”, she added.
For documentary director, Caro Bloj, the gathering carried distinct value due to the audience’s perspective: "It’s always fascinating to hear new takes on a film—even when you think you’ve heard everything, people still manage to surprise you. I enjoyed it immensely".
"I consider creating these spaces essential. Every screening brings a different audience, and I’m deeply interested in hearing their thoughts on the film", she reflected.
Stories Bound to the Ocean
“Sincronía” tells the stories of Ilka Paulens, a fisherwoman and tsunami survivor from Robinson Crusoe Island, and Bárbara Hernández, an ice-swimming world champion who completed the double crossing of the Catalina Channel to become the second woman and fourth person in history to achieve the Double Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. Through their experiences, the film explores contrasting ways of living and connecting with water, weaving a narrative that moves between freedom, challenge, joy, and risk.
This documentary screening kicks off the nationwide tour of award-winning films from the latest edition of the International Sea Film Festival. The showcase will continue in October and November with stops in Antofagasta and Valdivia, respectively.
As noted by MarCineFest Director, Pablo Rosenblatt: “This was our first stop, and we are thrilled with the turnout. The film was exceptionally well received, and having the director present allowed us to gain insight into the creative process behind the imagery, narrative structure, and musical score".
Echoing these sentiments, the Executive Coordinator of the UdeC Oceans Institute, Marcelo Fuentes, noted that the audience’s reception reaffirmed the value of such initiatives: "It is clear to us that bringing the International Film Festival here was the right decision, confirming that these cultural spaces are truly necessary. As the Oceans Institute, we are proud to drive this project forward.”
The event concluded with a networking coffee break , allowing attendees to continue conversations with the director and organizing teams, bringing a successful close to the first stop of the national MarCineFest tour.
