Chile Picks Manuela Martelli's 'The Meltdown' for 2027 Oscars Race

Chile has officially selected Manuela Martelli's mystery drama 'The Meltdown' ('El deshielo') as its submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.

The film, which premiered earlier this year in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, is Martelli's follow-up to her acclaimed drama 'Chile, 1976'. Set in the post-Pinochet era at a ski resort in the Andes, the story follows a young girl who becomes entangled in a series of unsettling events that test her loyalties.

Gabriel Diaz, president of the Chilean Academy, highlighted the significance of the selection, noting that for the first time in history, half of the submitted films were directed by women. "These have been days of watching excellent national premieres," Diaz said, adding that the industry is "modernising and evolving healthily." She also pointed out that all submissions received state support and that most were international co-productions, which has strengthened the audiovisual sector's economic impact.

'The Meltdown' stars Maya O'Rourke in her film debut as a nine-year-old girl who witnesses disturbing incidents at her family's resort. The cast also includes Paulina Urrutia, Mauricio Pesutic, Paula Zuniga, Marcela Salinas, and Lautaro Cantillana. The film is a Chilean-American-Mexican-Spanish co-production, with cinematography by Benjamin Echazarreta and international sales handled by Les Films du Losange.

Producer Alejandra Garcia of Ronda Cine described the production as a difficult journey, citing challenges such as delayed snowfall, working with a young child and animals, and securing a large budget. "Getting the film made was not easy. We never gave up," she said. Martelli herself called the experience "quite an adventure, a 'little Fitzcarraldo of the Andes'."

Streaming platform Mubi has acquired Latin American rights to the film, while US distributor Kino Lorber is planning a theatrical release. Diaz also urged Chile's Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage to strengthen support for the audiovisual sector following recent budget cuts, saying, "Strengthen the Audiovisual Fund, without censorship or prejudice."

Chile's entry will now compete among international submissions, with the Academy set to announce a shortlist of 15 films before revealing the final nominees. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 14, 2027.