Chilean filmmaker Dominga Sotomayor will premiere her latest film, La Perra, at the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in 2026. The film has been selected for the prestigious Directors' Fortnight (Quincena de Cineastas) section.
Julien Rejl, the artistic director of the Directors' Fort andnight, announced the selection this morning. The selection places Sotomayor's work alongside a lineage of cinematic icons including Martin Scorsese and Chantal Akerman.
Sotomayor described the project as a challenging and risky endeavor. "Cannes is the most important festival in the world and La Perra was a challenging, risky film, made with the love, talent, and work of many people," Sotomayor told Culto.
A cinematic adaptation
The film is an adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Colombian author Pilar Quintana. While the book is set in Cali, Sotomayor has relocated the narrative to a remote island off the coast of southern Chile.
The story follows Silvia, played by Manuela Oyarzún, a woman living with her partner, played by David Gaete. After adopting an abandoned puppy named Yuri, Silvia faces suppressed maternal desires and a resurfacing childhood trauma when the dog disappears.
Sotomayor noted that the film utilizes a more radical and dispersed language than her previous work, Limpia. "One of the protagonists of the film is a dog. That already generates a different perspective and a new language for me," the director said.
The production was filmed throughout late 2025 in the Biobío Region, including locations such as Isla Santa María and Coliumo. The cast also includes Brazilian actor Selton Mello.
Producer Fernando Bascuñán of Planta noted the difficulty of the production due to the complex island terrain and international cast. "Reaching the Fortnight is a collective pride," Bascuñán said, adding that the selection reaffirms the global potential of Chilean cinema.
Planta will have a second presence at the festival with the selection of La libertad doble, directed by Argentine filmmaker Lisandro Alonso.
