The Prince Claus Fund supported the first festival of Efecto Cine in Uruguay. Efecto Cine (Cinema Effect) is a travelling film exhibition across Uruguay that enables a large audience to see high quality films for free on outdoor locations. The Festival provided screenings in the outskirts of Montevideo and in 30 towns all over the country. The programme included 10 Uruguayan movies that were shown to promote film made by local film makers at places where it is hard and expensive to go to the cinema. Uruguay is a three million people country where half of its population lives in Montevideo. There are only 19 movie theatres in Uruguay, of which 16 in Montevideo (the capital city) and three in Punta del Este (the main seaside resort). The travelling exhibition by Efecto Cine made more than 10.000 kilometers within 4 month and reached 90.255 spectators.
The objective of the project was to generate a national and international catalogue of films to exhibit outside the commercial circuit in the form of travelling screenings. A small catalogue was produced with information about the films that were going to be screened. It was handed out to the audience, so that they got some idea of the local production, apart from the films they watched. Some screenings were complimented with the presence of the filmmakers. There was a lot of attention from the press as in the whole project 300 interviews have been given. Attention was also generated trough local radio stations, local TV channels and posters.
Efecto Cine achieved the consolidation of a new distribution and exhibition system, but also an expansion of the market for cinema in Uruguay at a national level that will help not only the distribution but the production of films as well.
The general population, especially the rural population, saw itself immersed in the cultural agenda and the public was happy to come to the screenings as they were high quality and they were for free. Local prices for a movie theatre are ususally between 5.80 and 6.20 US dollars a ticket.
The objectives for the future of the Efecto Cine project is to establish the travelling screenings in the region as part of the film distribution system; to encourage film makers to use digital technology; to generate the expectation of Efecto Cine in the population; to establish a yearly event with 180 screenings each year with an estimate audience of 1000 spectators each. And finally Efecto Cine wishes to continue creating a better understanding and awareness of national film in Uruguay.
Photos of the travelling exhibition Efecto Cine
There was a lot of attention from the press as during the whole project 300 interviews have been given.
Check the website of Efecto Cine
Check information on IMDB on one of the films that was shown (La Cascara)
Innovative cultural activities and initiatives of individuals and organisations in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean are initiated and supported by the Prince Claus Fund. These creative processes lead to artistic productions in the realm of theatre, music, visual arts, architecture, audio-visual art and design.
