Uruguayan films La Vida Util and Norberto Apenas Tarde have won the industry and TVE awards in this year’s San Sebastian Films In Progess section.

Federico Veiroj’s drama La VidaUtil, about a lonely projectionist at an arthouse cinema in Montevideo,  has won the support of leading Spanish producers Mediapro alter scooping the key industry award. The production company will now co-produce alongside Veiroj’s company Cinekdoque.

“I am absolutely delighted to have the support of Mediapro on this project,” Veiroj told ScreenDaily. “I was open to co-producing the film with other companies, but to have them onboard is amazing.”

As part of the industry award, the film will also be provided with the services of Best Digital, Kodak, Molinare Madrid, No Problem Sonido, Technicolor Entertainment Serves Spain and Titra Film to complete post-production on the project and create an English 35mm subtitled version of the film.

Veiroj’s previous film Acne won the TVE award in Films In Progress back in 2007 and went on to premiere at Cannes in the Directors’ Fortnight. It later won the grand jury prize for an international film at the American Film Market.  

Meanwhile, Daniel Hendler’s Norberto Apenas Tarde, about a man taking confidence classes so he can become an estate agent, picked up the TVE award and will receive $88,600 (€60,000) towards post production. It will later be shown by the broadcaster on Spanish TV.

Finally, Natalia Smirnoff’s Argentinean drama Rompecabezas  took the Casa De America prize, which awards $15,000 (€10,000) towards the development of the film. The film tells the story of a 50 year old housewife with a gift for puzzles who teams up with a millionaire to enter the world puzzle championships,

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