Global distributor Mubi has acquired The Meltdown (El Deshielo), the latest drama from Chilean director Manuela Martelli, which premiered in the Un Certain Regard sidebar at Cannes in May, per variety.com.
The film will stream on the platform later this year following its screening at the San Sebastián Film Festival’s Horizontes Latinos strand in September.
Set at an Andes ski resort in post-Pinochet Chile, The Meltdown follows a young girl who witnesses unsettling events that test her loyalties. The film marks the debut of lead actress Maya O’Rourke and also stars Paulina Urrutia, Mauricio Pešutić, Paula Zúñiga, Marcela Salinas and Lautaro Cantillana.
Written and directed by Martelli, with cinematography by Benjamín Echazarreta, the film is a Chilean-American-Mexican-Spanish co-production involving Ronda Cine, Cinema Inutile, Wood Producciones, Elástica Films, Piano and Fundación Río. It is in contention to represent Chile at the Oscars and Spain’s Goya Awards.
The acquisition comes as Chile’s audiovisual funding faces significant cuts under President José Antonio Kast, who took office in March. While the Ministry of Culture has described next year’s overall reduction as 9%, the Audiovisual Investment Support Fund will fall from roughly $586,000 (540 million pesos) in 2026 to $208,000 (192 million pesos) in 2027, a 64% cut.
The Meltdown producer Alejandra García of Ronda Cine called the cuts “deeply frustrating,” arguing that culture should be treated as an investment rather than an expense. She noted that Chilean cinema is experiencing an unprecedented international moment, with three Chilean filmmakers represented at Cannes this year: Martelli in Un Certain Regard, Dominga Sotomayor with “La Perra” in Directors’ Fortnight, and Diego Céspedes, who served on the Official Selection jury.
Diego Rougier, president of the Chilean Film & TV Producers Association (APCT), echoed the concern, saying funding cuts reduce both the quantity and quality of productions and affect employment across the industry.
The 74th San Sebastián Film Festival runs from September 18 to 26.
•Featured image: ‘The Meltdown’ Courtesy of Mubi