• With the aim of gathering relevant information on the internationalization and commercialization of Chilean documentaries and non-fiction series in 2022 and 2023, the Katalejo Research Center (Centro de Estudios Katalejo), in collaboration with Chiledoc, conducted an online survey of Chilean audiovisual companies.
• France, Argentina, and Mexico lead the list of countries purchasing Chilean documentaries on streaming platforms.
• Chilean companies participated in 48 co-productions with 17 countries, with France, Colombia, Germany, and Argentina at the top of the list.
Presentation of the Main Survey Results
Chiledoc, the Chilean documentary sector brand, conducted an online survey between October and November 2023, targeting 37 Chilean audiovisual companies. The study aimed to gather data and insights on the internationalization and commercialization of Chilean documentaries during the 2022-2023 period.
One notable finding is the increase in festival fee payments, which rose by 8.1% compared to the previous study covering the 2021-2022 period. Similarly, 30% of the surveyed companies received awards consisting of financial contributions at film festivals worldwide.
For Paula Ossandón, Director of Chiledoc, this figure “is very positive, as it indicates growth in the number of feature and short films selected at festivals worldwide. Therefore, we believe it reflects the global film industry’s high appreciation of Chilean documentary productions. Without going any further, in 2024, the Chilean film that has achieved the greatest international recognition is a feature documentary —The Eternal Memory, by Maite Alberdi— which represented Chile at the Oscars and the Goya Awards, where it ultimately won.”
The study also reveals an 8.8% increase in the number of sales agents acquiring Chilean non-fiction works, while 30% of the production houses surveyed reported revenue from TV channels and streaming platforms. MUBI, Guayaba, and Filmin lead the list of platforms that have acquired the most Chilean documentaries, while France, Argentina, and Mexico top the list of purchasing countries.
Regarding co-productions, the companies surveyed participated in 48 international alliances with 17 countries, with France, Colombia, Germany, and Argentina leading the list.
“Chilean documentaries have significant international reach. There are many reasons for this, such as the quality of their narrative and artistic proposals. It is a diverse cinema that dialogues with audiences across different regions, not only due to its unique stories but also because of the universality of its underlying themes. The quality of Chilean documentaries has always been outstanding, but today, a new generation is revitalizing the scene and introducing fresh perspectives. It is a cinema that takes risks, expands its language, and explores new ways of storytelling,” explains Paula Ossandón.
Among other factors contributing to this favorable moment, Ossandón highlights the ability of producers to establish international partnerships and the support of the public sector while also noting that the State should invest more in culture: “The public sector also plays a role in this equation, supporting the production and internationalization of Chilean documentaries. However, funding, for example, has remained stagnant or has grown very little. There is a lack of support for co-production and international distribution, and some funds require co-financing levels that exceed the capacity of the creative industries.”
According to Chiledoc’s director, there are still areas for improvement to continue strengthening national production: “Chilean television and private enterprises should become more involved in the production and exhibition of Chilean documentaries. Another area that requires support is the country’s regions, as resources and training are concentrated in the capital, and the main production and distribution chains are also located in Santiago. Although some cities have strong poles of development, the regions need to be further strengthened,» she concludes.
In addition to this survey, the Katalejo Research Center, in collaboration with the Chilean Corporation of Documentaries (CCDoc), conducted a study that identified and characterized the distribution circuits of 297 Chilean documentaries released between 2011 and 2022. More information.
About Chiledoc
Chiledoc promotes the talents of Chilean documentary filmmakers and their films and series worldwide. Our commitment lies in fostering the sector’s expansion through strategic promotion, creating and strengthening networks, and promoting associative practices. We are a collective force.
Chiledoc is a public-private organization supported by ProChile under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Chilean Corporation of Documentaries (CCDoc).
Press Contact
Natalia Raipan | periodista@ccdoc.cl
internacional@chiledoc.cl
@copyright Corporación Chilena del Documental CCDoc
