Sebastián Lelio’s ‘La Ola’ Boarded by FilmNation Entertainment Ahead of Cannes Premiere

FilmNation Entertainment has joined Sebastián Lelio’s latest project, La Ola (The Wave) — a musical centered on the 2018 student feminist protests in Chile. The film is set to debut in the Cannes Premieres section, with FilmNation launching worldwide sales outside of Latin America at the festival.

Lelio, who previously won the Oscar for best international feature for A Fantastic Woman, is also known for the Chilean film Gloria and its English-language remake Gloria Bell, along with Disobedience and The Wonder.

The cast of La Ola features newcomers Daniela López, Avril Aurora, Lola Bravo, and Paulina Cortés. The film is produced by Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Rocío Jadue, and Lelio, with Fabula producing. Participant and Fremantle co-financed the production, which was shot on location in Chile over a span of nine weeks. The screenplay was penned by Lelio, Manuela Infante, Josefina Fernández, and Paloma Salas.

The story follows Julia, a music student who finds herself swept into the student movement gaining momentum at her university. The film showcases original compositions created in collaboration with 17 Chilean musicians, including Ana Tijoux, Camila Moreno, and Javiera Parra, alongside award-winning composer Matthew Herbert, known for his work on Disobedience and Gloria Bell.

Musical sequences are choreographed by Ryan Heffington, the acclaimed choreographer whose credits include collaborations with Sia, Florence and the Machine, and Christine and the Queens, as well as his contributions to the series Euphoria and Transparent, and the films Tick, Tick…Boom! and Baby Driver.

FilmNation recently backed Anora, which earned best picture at this year’s Oscars, as well as Conclave, an acclaimed thriller that received multiple Academy Award nominations.

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