Chile’s Augusto Matte, Úrsula Budnik, Fernando Bascuñán Launch Maquina

Aiming to optimize and streamline the development and production of films and series in the international marketplace, Maquina, a new production entity comprising three companies, has launched at the 72nd San Sebastian Festival.

Formed by three firms led by seasoned Chilean producers – Augusto Matte’s London-based Deptford Film, Úrsula Budnik’s Horamágica in Valdivia and Fernando Bascuñán’s Santiago-based Planta – Maquina has been established to leverage the combined strengths of its founding partners, all of whom are attending the prominent Spanish festival.

“We’ve always wanted to work together, Maquina provides us with a more flexible structure that allows us to be more agile and practical,” Matte told Variety, explaining: “It is conceptually inspired by the idea of machinic assemblages, which refers to a fluid and dynamic system where different elements come together to create a functional whole without a fixed center.”

Added Budnik: “This means that the structure operates as a collaborative network of three production companies, each contributing its unique strengths and resources to the collective development and production process.”

“By integrating the unique capabilities of each partner, Maquina will be able to handle complex, multi-territory projects with greater agility and scale,” concurred Bascuñán, who together with Horamágica and co-producers Oro Films and Italy’s Dispàrte, is participating in San Sebastian’s annual WIP Latam program with Nayra Ilic’s “Cuerpo Celeste.” Planta also boarded San Sebastian Co-Production Forum-bound “Hard Boiled School” and is co-presenting Federico Luis’ “Simón de la Montaña” at the festival’s Horizontes Latinos sidebar.  

First out the gate is “Daemon,” the debut feature of Valeria Hofmann, who first caught the film world’s attention with her short, “AliEN0089,” which world premiered at Sundance where it won Best Director and later snagged awards at Clermont-Ferrand and Filmfest Dresden.

The short film explored digital alienation and identity, themes that Hofmann expands on in “Daemon,” a techno-horror film set in the Chilean coastal town of Valparaíso. It centers on Liz, a young woman drawn into a virtual relationship with Xin, a digital entity. As the lines between reality and technology blur, Liz faces a choice: hold on to her humanity or surrender to a dangerously immersive digital world. The film explores themes of isolation, identity and the darker aspects of technology.

Maquina hopes to close co-production deals while at San Sebastian as it seeks to become a key player in the international film landscape.

Budnik is an accomplished executive producer with over two decades of experience in the audiovisual industry. She founded Horamágica in 2003 where she has spearheaded a diverse range of projects in both film and television. Her notable early producing work includes Sebastián Lelio’s debut feature film “La Sagrada Familia” and his follow-up, “Navidad.” Budnik has also produced such acclaimed television series as “Los archivos del cardenal” and “Sitiados.”

Bascuñán founded Planta in 2010 and has produced several notable films, including “Simon de la Montaña,” winner of  the Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Critics’ Week, and Felipe Gálvez’s “The Settlers” (“Los Colonos”), selected for Un Certain Regard at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and Chile’s submission to the Oscars last year.

He also played a pivotal role at Quijote Films, where he contributed to the production of over 10 films, including the critically acclaimed “Blanco en blanco” by Theo Court and “Blanquita” by Fernando Guzzoni.

Based in London since 2018, Matte has led complex co-productions across Latin America and Europe, with his work showcased at major film festivals, including Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Venice and Toronto. Prior to founding Deptford Film, he was CEO and producer at Jirafa, where he played a key role in launching the careers of prominent filmmakers and managing multiple international projects, including Francisca Alegria’s “The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future” and Hoffmann’s “AliEN0089.” He holds an MA in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London.