Academy of Cinema of Chile
The Academy of Cinema of Chile (), also known as the Academy of Cinematographic Arts of Chile (), is a nonprofit professional association representing people working in Chile's film industry. Founded in 2018, it promotes Chilean cinema and audiovisual arts, facilitates professional and international exchange, and supports the development of the country's film industry.
Since 2020, the Academy has selected the films representing Chile in the Academy Awards, Goya Awards, and Ariel Awards. Its selection responsibilities subsequently expanded to include several other Ibero-American film awards, including the Macondo Awards, Brazil's Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro (Otelo), the Argentine Sur Awards, Venezuela's Soto Awards, Ecuador's Colibrí Awards, and categories of the Platino Awards.
The Academy is a member of the Federación Iberoamericana de Academias de Cine (FIACINE), which promotes cooperation among film academies in Ibero-America. In 2025, its then-president, María Elena Wood, was elected president of FIACINE for the 2025–2027 term.
History
Foundation
The Academy was formally established in Santiago, Chile, on June 15, 2018, when its founding members signed its statutes at the offices of CinemaChile. The organization was created as a private, nonprofit association of professionals from different disciplines of filmmaking. Its establishment was led by professionals associated with the Association of Film and Television Producers (APCT), who sought to promote Chilean cinema domestically and strengthen its international connections through organizations such as FIACINE.
The provisional board was headed by producer Giancarlo Nasi, with costume designer Muriel Parra as secretary and art director Estefanía Larraín as treasurer. The founding members included directors Sebastián Lelio, Silvio Caiozzi, Gustavo Graef Marino, Sergio Castilla, and Francisco Hervé, actress Paulina García, and producers Miguel Asensio and Bruno Bettati.
International film selections
In August 2020, the Academy announced that it would assume responsibility for selecting Chile's submissions for the Academy Awards, Goya Awards, and Ariel Awards. The selection process was to be conducted by Academy members representing different filmmaking professions. The arrangement was carried out in cooperation with Chile's Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, including promotional campaigns for selected films.
Beginning in 2023, the Academy expanded its international selection activities to include the Macondo Awards of Colombia, the Colibrí Awards of Ecuador, and Brazil's Otelo Awards. It subsequently added selections connected with the Sur Awards of Argentina and the Soto Awards of Venezuela, as well as categories at the Platino Awards.
The Academy's selection process is conducted through voting by its members. In 2023, more than 350 members participated in the selection of Chile's submission for the Academy Awards, with a reported turnout of 65 percent of registered members.
Governance
The Academy's provisional board was replaced by its first elected board in 2021. Giancarlo Nasi remained president, while Constanza Arena became vice president, Rebeca Gutiérrez secretary, Michelle Cervera treasurer, and Lorena Giachino and María Elena Wood directors.
Wood became president for the 2023–2025 term. Gabriel Díaz, who served as vice president during that period, was elected president for the 2026–2027 term.
Activities
The Academy promotes Chilean cinema and audiovisual arts, encourages exchanges of knowledge among Chilean, Latin American, and international filmmakers, and disseminates information about audiovisual production. It represents professionals from a range of filmmaking disciplines, including directing, producing, acting, animation, editing, screenwriting, art direction, sound, makeup, and costume design.
As of 2026, the Academy has more than 390 members representing different occupations in Chile's film industry.
Pedro Sienna Awards
The Pedro Sienna Award is a Chilean state award recognizing works and professionals in the country's audiovisual sector. The awards are organized by the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage with the support of the Academy.
The Academy has also established the Lihuén Award for Best Ibero-American Film. The inaugural award was presented in 2025 to Brazilian film I'm Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui), directed by Walter Salles.
Presidents
- Giancarlo Nasi (2018–2022)
- María Elena Wood (2023–2025)
- Gabriel Díaz (2026–present)
Current board
As of 2026, the elected board consists of:
- President – Gabriel Díaz
- Vice president – Leonora González
- Secretary – Diego Pino
- Treasurer – Juan Cristóbal Hurtado
- Director – Vivienne Barry
- Director – Marcela Said
Founding members
- Miguel Asensio (producer)
- Bruno Bettati (producer)
- Silvio Caiozzi (director)
- Sergio Castilla (director)
- Paulina García (actress)
- Gustavo Graef Marino (director)
- Francisco Hervé (director)
- Sebastián Lelio (director)
See also
- Cinema of Chile
- List of Chilean submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film