Daniela Ramrez-Led La Isla Series Starts Southern Chile Shoot in October (EXCLUSIVE)

Posted by Jenniffer Sheldon on Wednesday, August 21, 2024

“La Isla,” a sci-fi thriller series presented at last year’s Sanfic Series Lab, Conecta Fiction and Iberseries, is kicking off principal photography in October.

Daniela Ramírez, International Emmy-nominated for her performance in HBO Max’s three-part limited series “Isabel: The Intimate Story of Isabel Allende,” is attached to star alongside Néstor Cantillana (“NO”).

Penned by Felipe Carmona (“Prison in the Andes”), the six-part series focuses on a dogged detective (Ramírez) who returns to her hometown in the enigmatic Chiloé archipelago to investigate the disappearance of a Mexican archaeology student.

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There, she must determine whether the case is a kidnapping or, against all logic, connected to the mythical Friendship Island. According to reports, numerous disappearances, unexplained healings and extraterrestrial activity have occurred there, the synopsis goes.

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“We want to tell a story that explores global issues, such as imagining life beyond Earth, the end of a cycle in humanity with the emergence of artificial intelligence, while also incorporating the rich cultural identity and mythology unique to southern Chile,” said producer/showrunner Pablo Díaz del Rio of Rio Estudios, Chile.

Rodrigo Susarte (“Gen Mishima,” “Invunche”) takes over directing duties from Claudia Huaiquimilla,  who has bowed out due to scheduling conflicts.

Said Susarte: “We are at the beginning of the end of the world; society is fractured, and there is no point of return. Established values are crumbling, making it almost impossible to distinguish between good and evil in today’s societies. This framework seems fundamental to me in creating such a particular universe as ‘La Isla.’”

“Subverting the genre, articulating new universes necessary to expand the narrative logic that exists today in our film industry. The theme of metamorphosis and transformation is central to my artistic vision. I am drawn to the idea of showing extreme physical and psychological changes as a metaphor for personal and collective evolution,” he said, adding:  “In ‘La Isla,’ this journey allows us, through an episodic structure, to explore these points. The universality of loss and the fear of the unknown are also key topics in the story, transforming into possible narratives within the logic of science fiction. This motivates me to create a unique universe where the imaginative space can be reinterpreted, giving this series a distinctive quality for films made in the Southern Cone.”

Principal photography begins Oct. 21 in the Los Ríos region of Chile.

Rio Estudios is seeking a Mexican co-producer for Season 2, which will likely be set in Mexico. There is a similar mysterious island in Mexico called the Isla Vermeja, according to Díaz.

Backed by state-run agencies CNTV and Corfo, the series is co-produced by Filmo Estudios, the Santiago-based post production/VFX house behind such gems as Pablo Larrain’s “El Conde” and Maite Alberdi’s Oscar-nommed “The Eternal Memory” and upcoming fiction debut, “El lugar de la otra.”

“Because this is a sci-fi thriller heavy in VFX, Filmo Estudios plays a vital role in the aesthetics and narrative of the series,” said Díaz.

Miami-based MGE, run by Esperanza Garay, will handle distribution.

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