Nando Vila: In the Summers' director Alessandra Lacorazza is a talent that will be the source of much attention
“In any film that you invest capital, there is a risk, and if the director lacks experience in feature films, the risk is double. But as soon as I read the In the Summers script, I had great faith in it, and we are very pleased with the results. Alessandra Lacorazza is a talent that will be the source of much attention. She has a unique and very personal vision. Her film has such a level of detail, such a deep level of humanism that it transcends the story, making it universal. Anyone who sees the film will relate. It is something unusual for a director with little experience,” said Nando Vila, Head of Studio at Exile Content Studio in #PRODUprimetime with Ríchard Izarra, upon learning that In the summers – the debut feature of this young Colombian director, screenwriter and editor, produced by Exile together with Lexicon and Luz Films – won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival 2024 in the Drama category. Alessandra was also awarded Best Director.
FAMILY WITHOUT GUNSHOTS
“It was an unforgettable moment for a film I feel very proud about. It was a long and arduous job making a dramatic and family film without action, gunshots, explosions, or anything, which is complicated, especially nowadays. It is a recognition that has been very good for us. I am very happy for all the partners; they all risked a lot and worked like crazy on this project. But above all, I feel very happy for Alessandra being able to take her vision forward,” said Vila, producer and executive, born in Miami of Spanish parents. Vila has been working for three and a half years at Exile, a company founded by Isaac Lee, with whom he has worked in several endeavors.
LATIN QUALITY
“Exile’s mandate from the beginning, when Isaac founded it, was to bet on the quality of Latin American and Latino talent in the US. We want to support authors and help them show their vision. Alessandra took a chance with a film that allows the audience to inject their narrative because there is little dialogue. There are many moments of silence where tensions, misunderstandings, and emotional friction coexist. That shows self-confidence and a belief in her vision that is special. For me, young directors want to do more and more; they want to make movies with all kinds of rhythm, especially action. But she had the confidence to let the moments breathe and spaces of silence. We are very pleased that the Sundance Institute and the jury recognized that because the truth is that it required a certain courage on her part,” added Vila.
PARTNERS
Regarding how he got involved in the project and who came on board, he said:
“I couldn’t have asked for better partners. Lexicon is the company of Alex Dinelaris, who originally brought me the script. I read it, and I loved it. The truth is that I didn’t know very well how we were going to do it, but I committed to getting it done with him in some way or another. After several months, I met Lynette Coll, one of the partners of the production company Luz Films, and I told her: ‘I have a movie we have to make no matter what, and you can’t refuse.’ And she replied: ‘Okay, okay, okay, I’ll do it. Let me read it first. Immediately, she and her partner Sergio Lira, who already knew about the project, began to co-finance and co-produce with us, which gave us the strength to move forward to production. They have all been onboard 100%. They are great partners, and we are already looking for ways to work together in the future because they have been a dream team.”
RISK AND DISTRIBUTION
Regarding the risks of taking on the film, he noted: “Any film in which you put capital is a risk, especially a film about a Latin American family, which the leading actor, although being a world star, he had never acted—I’m talking about Residente (Puerto Rican rapper and composer)—and with a director who had never done a feature film. And we invested a significant percentage of money. There is always a risk, even if you have a super-experienced director with a world star. We took a double risk with the film, but were very happy with the results.”
About the distribution, he said: “We are selling it now. Our sales agents are contacting buyers and distributors to place it. I’ll let you know.”
