Foco Distribucion

Overview

Foco Distribucion is a Santiago-based independent film distribution company serving the Chilean theatrical market. The company releases arthouse and international films in Chile, targeting Santiago's independent cinema audience through arthouse venues in the city's Providencia and Nunoa districts and cultural institutions that program quality cinema. Foco operates in the specialty distribution niche within the Chilean theatrical market, which is otherwise dominated by major multiplex chains handling mainstream commercial releases.

Note: Foco Distribucion maintains a limited online presence, and detailed public information about its current acquisition activities, leadership, and release slate is not widely available as of July 2026. Filmmakers and sales agents should contact the company directly through its website to verify current operations and submission procedures.

Chilean Theatrical Market

Chile's theatrical market is concentrated in Santiago, which accounts for the majority of national box office revenue. The country has approximately 320 screens across a population of 19 million, with major commercial multiplex chains including Cinemark and Cineplanet dominating commercial programming. Chilean films accounted for approximately 2.7% to 5.3% of national market share in the 2010s, with Hollywood productions capturing roughly 90% of admissions.

Independent and arthouse distribution in Chile operates through a network of cultural venues and independent cinemas that program outside the multiplex system. Key venues in Santiago include:

• Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM) - A major cultural center in downtown Santiago that programs arthouse cinema, documentary, and international film series
• Cineteca Nacional de Chile - The national film archive, which screens repertory and contemporary arthouse cinema
• Independent venues in Providencia and Nunoa - Santiago districts with concentrated arthouse cinema audiences

This venue network is the primary exhibition channel for independent distributors like Foco Distribucion, as the multiplex chains rarely program arthouse or international specialty titles outside of major studio releases.

Chilean Film Culture

Chile has produced internationally recognized filmmakers who have achieved significant global distribution and Academy Award attention:

• Sebastian Lelio - Gloria (2013), A Fantastic Woman (2017, Academy Award winner for Best International Feature Film), Disobedience (2017)
• Pablo Larrain - No (2012, Academy Award nominee), Jackie (2016), Spencer (2021), El Conde (2023, Netflix)
• Maite Alberdi - The Mole Agent (2020, Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature), The Eternal Memory (2023, Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature)

This international recognition has created ongoing demand from international distributors for quality Chilean productions, and has elevated the profile of Chilean cinema on the global festival circuit. Chilean films regularly premiere at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Sundance, and Toronto.

Chilean Film Funding Infrastructure

Chile's film industry is supported by state funding mechanisms that also affect distribution:

• CORFO (Corporacion de Fomento de la Produccion) - Chile's economic development agency, which has historically supported film production
• Ministerio de las Culturas - The Ministry of Cultures (formerly Consejo de la Cultura) supports domestic production and distribution through competitive funds
• DIRAC (Direccion de Asuntos Culturales) - Supports international promotion and circulation of Chilean films abroad
• Chilean co-production treaties - Chile has co-production treaties with Spain, France, and other countries, providing pathways for international co-financing

These funding mechanisms can support the theatrical distribution of quality foreign films in Chile, and independent distributors like Foco may access distribution support for releases that qualify under the relevant criteria.

Other Chilean Independent Distributors

Foco Distribucion operates alongside several other independent and specialty distributors in the Chilean market:

• Santiago Independiente - Founded in 2016, a boutique production and distribution company focused on auteur cinema, new talent, independent film, comedy, documentary, and genre. They have released films including Andino (2019) and Al Amparo del Cielo (2021), with features premiering at international festivals.
• Miradoc - A Chilean documentary distribution program run by the Chilean Documentary Corporation (CCDOC) since 2013. Miradoc has released more than 80 Chilean documentaries in over 17 cities across Chile, in partnership with more than 20 independent and multiplex theaters. Since 2024, Miradoc also operates Butaca Liberada, a free film program with accessibility tools. A large part of the catalog is available on more than 8 online platforms.
• Andes Films - A distributor handling arthouse and international releases in Chile
• BF Distribution - A Chilean distributor handling both commercial and independent releases

What Filmmakers Should Know

For International Filmmakers

For international filmmakers seeking Chilean theatrical distribution, Foco Distribucion is one of several potential contacts for arthouse projects. Chile is typically acquired as a standalone territory in international rights deals, though it is sometimes grouped with Peru or other Andean countries. The Chilean arthouse market is small in absolute terms but has a dedicated cinema-literate audience in Santiago.

International sales agents handling Latin American rights should contact Chilean distributors directly, as there is no single dominant buyer for the territory. The most common acquisition path is through sales agents presenting films at markets like the European Film Market (EFM), Ventana Sur (Buenos Aires), or the American Film Market (AFM).

For Chilean Filmmakers

For Chilean filmmakers with international aspirations, domestic distribution through a company like Foco provides a theatrical foundation in Santiago that supports festival strategy and international sales. The combination of state funding support, a growing international profile for Chilean cinema, and dedicated arthouse venues creates a viable (if modest) domestic market for quality Chilean productions.

Chilean filmmakers should also consider Miradoc for documentary distribution, and Santiago Independiente for independent and auteur cinema. The Australab platform at the Valdivia International Film Festival (FICVALDIVIA) provides industry networking opportunities for Latin American distribution and co-production.

See Also

For Chilean documentary distribution, see Miradoc. For independent Chilean production and distribution, see Santiago Independiente. For international sales covering Latin America, see Latido Films in this directory. For how Latin American territory deals fit into an international sales strategy, see Distribution Deals Explained.