The 76th Berlin Film Festival, from February 12 to 22, 2026, will feature a strong Chilean presence with the world premiere of Maite Alberdi's documentary 'Un Hijo Propio', the European premiere of Diego Fuentes' 'Matapanki', and the series 'The House of the Spirits'. These works explore maternity, punk superheroes, and an adaptation of Isabel Allende's novel, backed by Netflix and Prime Video.
The 2026 Berlin Film Festival confirms Chilean participation in key sections. Maite Alberdi will present 'Un Hijo Propio' in Berlinale Special (Special Presentations), her seventh feature and second documentary after 'El agente topo' (2020). Filmed in Mexico with Netflix backing, the film follows Alejandra, a woman who fakes a pregnancy due to social pressure, leading to a media scandal. 'Being part of the Berlin Festival is especially significant, as it's a space where cinema is not only shown but discussed and challenged,' Alberdi stated. 'This documentary arises from questioning what happens when a social expectation becomes so oppressive that someone feels lying is the only way to belong?'.
In Generation 14plus, Diego 'Mapache' Fuentes' 'Matapanki' will have its European premiere. The debut feature, awarded at FICValdivia 2025, tells the story of Ricardo (Ramón Gálvez), a punk youth from Quilicura with alcohol-activated superpowers, who ends up in a global conflict after a mistake involving Chile's president. 'Diego Fuentes transforms Matapanki into a wild punk manifesto using the superhero film framework,' the organizers noted. The movie will hit Chilean theaters on March 26, 2026.
Finally, in Berlinale Special (Special Series), 'The House of the Spirits' will screen, the second audiovisual adaptation of Isabel Allende's novel, now as an eight-episode series for Prime Video. Creative direction by Francisca Alegría, Fernanda Urrejola, and Andrés Wood, the cast features Alfonso Herrera, Nicole Wallace, Dolores Fonzi, Fernanda Castillo, Aline Küppenheim, and Eduard Fernández. The series aims to be more faithful than the 1993 film version and will launch on streaming within the next 12 months.
This triple presence highlights the rising impact of Chilean cinema and series on the international stage.
