FilmNation Boards Sebastián Lelio’s La Ola Ahead of Cannes Premiere

FilmNation Entertainment has joined Sebastián Lelio’s latest feature La Ola (The Wave), a musical drama centered on the 2018 student feminist protests in Chile. The company will handle worldwide sales outside of Latin America and officially launch the title at the Cannes Market, where the film will debut in the Cannes Premieres section.

Lelio, who won an Oscar for Best International Feature with A Fantastic Woman, brings his signature blend of social realism and emotion to La Ola. His past works include the Chilean drama Gloria, its English-language remake Gloria Bell, Disobedience, and The Wonder.

The film introduces a cast of fresh talent, including Daniela López, Avril Aurora, Lola Bravo, and Paulina Cortés. It is produced by Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Rocío Jadue, and Lelio himself. The production comes from Fabula and is co-financed by Participant and Fremantle. Lelio co-wrote the screenplay with Manuela Infante, Josefina Fernández, and Paloma Salas. Filming took place over nine weeks in Chile.

La Ola follows Julia, a music student who becomes immersed in the political and emotional tide of a student-led feminist uprising at her university. The film features original music collaboratively composed by 17 Chilean musicians, including Ana Tijoux, Camila Moreno, and Javiera Parra, with acclaimed composer Matthew Herbert—known for his work on Disobedience and Gloria Bell—also contributing.

The musical sequences are choreographed by renowned artist Ryan Heffington, whose credits include projects with Sia, Florence and the Machine, Christine and the Queens, as well as work on the series Euphoria, Transparent, and the films Tick, Tick…Boom! and Baby Driver.

FilmNation’s recent successes include Anora, which won Best Picture at this year’s Oscars, and the critically acclaimed thriller Conclave, which received several Academy Award nominations.

Read the whole article on Variety.