“I see Uruguay as one of the hubs of cinema in Latin America”: International sales agents spotlight Uruguayan talent at DETOUR

The range of stories, production quality, and talent of a new generation of filmmakers drew the interest of two international sales and distribution agents invited by Uruguay XXI to the 14th edition of the DETOUR New Film Festival.

Yeniffer Fasciani, head of sales and acquisitions at Spain’s FEELSALES, and Brazilian industry professional Lidia Damatto, co-founder of MoreThan Films, served as festival jurors and met with members of Uruguay’s film and audiovisual industry.

Organized by Uruguay XXI, the one-on-one meetings took place on October 14 at Hotel Esplendor. Producers and filmmakers with projects featured in the Uruguay Films catalog presented their work to international film sales and distribution specialists, building connections that could help bring their stories to audiences abroad.

Local Stories That Speak to the World

For Fasciani, DETOUR offered an opportunity to discover projects for the FEELSALES catalog, which includes both feature films and shorts. She hopes to expand the agency’s short film lineup by 2027.

During the meetings, she highlighted the range of projects presented, from documentaries and fiction films to comedies and dramas. “All the projects were very different; none was similar to the one before it,” she said.

She found the same variety in her work as a juror for the screenplay competition and the Mirada Internacional competition. “There is a tremendous thematic diversity,” she noted. “There are themes that, while they may be local, speak to everyone,” she added.

An Industry with International Expertise

Drawing on her experience in sales, distribution, and festival programming across Latin America, the United States, and Europe, Damatto particularly valued the chance to meet a new generation of filmmakers in a country already home to internationally recognized producers and companies.

“The short films are all professional-quality, extremely well-made, with well-written scripts. High-quality audiovisual content is being produced here in Uruguay,” she said.

Damatto also highlighted the expertise of the professionals she met. Several producers working on their first films demonstrated a strong understanding of how international festivals and markets operate—something she does not always see in larger film industries.

“I see Uruguay as one of the hubs of cinema in Latin America,” she said, noting that the country’s production and post-production capabilities make it a strategic partner for regional co-productions.

New International Opportunities

The meetings opened conversations about projects at various stages of development and production. Damatto identified projects she hopes to explore further once additional materials and rough cuts become available. Fasciani, meanwhile, said some projects could potentially join the FEELSALES catalog, although discussions remain at an early stage.

Attending DETOUR for the first time, Fasciani praised the festival’s support for emerging filmmakers and offered a message to the wider industry: “We need to start paying more attention to Uruguay.”

Since its launch in 2013, DETOUR has provided a platform to support and showcase emerging Uruguayan film and audiovisual work, helping more than 60 projects move into production.

By inviting international sales and distribution agents to serve as jurors and meet with local professionals, Uruguay XXI links cultural promotion with practical export support, helping Uruguayan stories reach new audiences.

Learn more about Uruguay’s film and audiovisual industry