Chile's Sanfic-Morbido Lab Expands Global Reach With WomanInFan Partnership

Building the Pipeline for Genre Cinema

When Chile's Santiago Film Festival (Sanfic) launched its Sanfic-Morbido Lab seven years ago, it was essentially creating a new pipeline for fantastic and genre filmmaking in Latin America. What began as an experimental initiative has now evolved into one of the region's most reliable platforms for nurturing emerging talent in genre cinema.

The lab's latest iteration, unveiled during this year's festival running November 2–6, introduces two significant innovations: a partnership with the Sitges Film Festival through the WomanInFan Southern Cone initiative and a new pix-in-post section called Fantastic WIP. This combination represents not just an expansion of programming but a strategic move toward greater inclusivity and global recognition.

"Seven years of the Sanfic-Mórbido Lab is not just a number — it's a proof of concept. The talent was always there. What didn't exist was the pipeline. We built it, and now it works," said Pablo Guisa Koestinger, CEO of Grupo Mórbido and executive director of the Fantastic Pavilion at Cannes.

Empowering Women in Genre Cinema

The WomanInFan Southern Cone initiative is a regional extension of Sitges' pioneering program for women in fantastic cinema, led by Mónica García Massagué. This new collaboration specifically targets women directors from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay — countries that represent significant creative powerhouses in Latin American filmmaking.

This focus on gender diversity isn't merely a feel-good addition; it's a calculated effort to address long-standing imbalances in the genre film landscape. While men have historically dominated genre filmmaking spaces globally, the rise of women in these roles is reshaping narratives and introducing fresh perspectives to horror, science fiction, fantasy, and other genres.

The program includes mentorship sessions that culminate in final pitches before industry professionals during Sanfic. It's a structured pathway that moves beyond simply identifying promising projects to actively supporting their development and eventual distribution.

Fantastic WIP: Completing the Film Journey

But the Sanfic-Morbido Lab isn't stopping at the development stage. The new Fantastic WIP section addresses a critical gap in the filmmaking ecosystem — the post-production phase that often leaves promising projects stranded without proper support to reach completion and global audiences.

Filmmakers whose projects have advanced through development and into production can now showcase their work to international sales agents, distributors, festival programmers, and industry professionals. This feedback loop ensures that films don't just get made but also get seen — a crucial distinction in today's oversaturated market.

As Sanfic Industria director Gabriela Sandoval noted, "With WomanInFan Southern Cone and Fantastic WIP, we are expanding our commitment to genre cinema, which we have been advancing for seven editions through the Sanfic-Mórbido Lab."

A Strategic Alliance with Global Partners

The collaboration with Sitges Film Festival and Grupo Mórbido is particularly noteworthy because both organizations represent leading forces in genre cinema worldwide. Sitges, with its established reputation for showcasing exceptional fantasy and horror films, brings international credibility to the table.

Meanwhile, Grupo Mórbido's role as executive director of Cannes' Fantastic Pavilion provides a direct pathway to one of the most prestigious platforms for genre filmmaking globally. The awards attached to this lab — including Premio Mórbido with up to 20% co-financing and Premio Fantastic Pavilion guaranteeing participation in Cannes — provide tangible incentives that attract serious talent.

Impact Beyond Borders

The significance of this move extends beyond Latin America. By creating an inclusive ecosystem for genre filmmaking, Sanfic is helping to reshape how global genre cinema is produced and distributed. As these projects gain international attention, they open doors not just for the filmmakers involved but also for their countries' broader film industries.

This approach reflects a growing trend among festivals and institutions worldwide — recognizing that the best stories come from diverse voices and that supporting those voices means investing in the future of global storytelling.

Looking Forward

The success of the Sanfic-Morbido Lab and its expanded initiatives will be measured not only by the number of films produced but also by how effectively they connect emerging talent with global markets. As these programs mature, we're likely to see a new wave of genre films that reflect the full spectrum of Latin American creativity while gaining recognition on the world stage.

What's particularly exciting is how this partnership signals a broader shift in how film festivals and industry organizations are approaching inclusion and pipeline building — moving from token gestures to meaningful structural changes that support long-term career development for artists.