Original article: Aukaleb Ankaro trae a Sanfic «El vuelo de los cóndores», una historia de memoria e identidad a través de la apnea

Aukaleb Ankaro Premieres «The Flight of the Condors» at Sanfic: A Story of Memory and Identity Through Breath-Holding

Held breath, the chill of the mountain range, and the challenge of recognizing oneself in another person shape the narrative of The Flight of the Condors, a short film by Chilean director and screenwriter Aukaleb Ankaro, which has been selected for the National Talent Short Film Competition at the 22nd edition of the Santiago International Film Festival, SANFIC.

The national premiere will take place during the festival, which is scheduled from November 2 to November 8, 2026.

Produced by Cristian Lagos under Cuello Negro Films, the film follows Vania, a young woman striving to connect with Laura, the woman she believes to be her biological mother.

Set against the backdrop of separation at birth during the dictatorship, the story highlights the uncertainty of a long-anticipated reunion: how to express who you are and find a place in the life of someone who does not know you.

For Ankaro, the film emerges from the intersection of his exploration of scuba diving and freediving, alongside his work as a producer and creative on documentaries such as October Mothers by Cristian Lagos and When the Fog Advances by Jaime Díaz. These experiences have drawn him closer to narratives marked by loss, identity, and familial connections.

«I was interested in exploring that encounter, the feeling of not belonging, and the need to find a place in someone else’s life. This is Vania’s experience: she wants to tell Laura that she is her daughter, but each attempt is fraught with fear and uncertainty,» the director explains.

This search is cinematically expressed through the landscape and the physical effort of the protagonists. The mountain range, the temperature, and the immersion all contribute to the emotional conflict that Ankaro aims to portray on screen.

Sanfic

The selection at Sanfic provides a new opportunity for visibility for Ankaro and a body of work that connects memory, territory, and embodied experience.

This exploration is also evident in Up the Sky and Down, a feature film he is developing with Gabriela Amaro and Francisca Gavilán as protagonists, aiming to deepen his engagement with the world of scuba diving and freediving through fiction.

«As a director, I am thrilled that The Flight of the Condors will have its national premiere at Sanfic, a festival of international significance. For our team, it is an opportunity to share the film with the Chilean audience and embark on a new chapter after its production process,» Ankaro expresses.

The short film reaches this premiere after securing funding from the Audiovisual Fund for short films and winning the Work in Progress award at the La Serena International Film Festival, recognition received during its post-production. Its presentation at Sanfic marks another step in the film’s journey, looking forward to future international screenings.