Since early in his career, the films of Sebastián Silva, a Chilean writer and director, have received international acclaim.
He studied filmmaking at the Escuela de Cine de Chile for a year before leaving to study animation in Montreal. In 2007, he co-wrote and directed his first feature, LA VIDA ME MATA which garnered multiple awards, including Best Film from the Chilean Critics Circle.
Silva’s success continued with his next film, LA NANA (THE MAID) which premiered in World Competition at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and won the Grand Jury prize. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe, as well as an Independent Spirit Award in the Best Foreign Film category. Sebastián followed up THE MAID with his film OLD CATS, which premiered at the 2010 New York Film Festival.
In 2012 Sebastián directed two films, MAGIC MAGIC and CRYSTAL FAIRY. MAGIC MAGIC, which he wrote and directed, is a dark thriller starring Michael Cera, Juno Temple and Emily Browning with Christine Vachon and Mike White producing. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival as well as the 2013 Cannes Film Festival as part of Directors’ Fortnight. CRYSTAL FAIRY similarly premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival as part of the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. The film starred Michael Cera and Gaby Hoffman, and was produced by Pablo Larrain and Juan de Dios Larrian.
Sebastián’s film NASTY BABY, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, stars Sebastián himself as Freddy, a Brooklyn artist, alongside Tunde Adebimpe as Mo, who are a gay couple grappling with the complications of conceiving a child via artificial insemination, and enlist the help of their friend Polly, played by Kristen Wiig.
Filmmaking Masterclass with Sebastián Silva, Sat 10th October, 11.20am
In Conversation with Sebastián Silva, Sun 11th October, 9.00am
