OFFICIALSCREENINGSTHURSDAYMAY25THat11AMand10PMatDEBUSSY

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INTERNATIONALSALES:CITÉFILMS

RaphaëlBerdugo+33673682616

rberdugo@citefilms.comwww.citefilms.com

INTERNATIONALPRESS:DARKSTARJean-FrançoisGaye+33664625080jfg@darkstarpresse.fr ClaireVorger+33620104056clairevorger@orange.fr

AFILMBYCECILIAATÁNANDVALERIAPIVATOSTARRINGPAULINAGARCIAANDCLAUDIORISSI

ACECILIAATÁN-VALERIAPIVATO,CEIBITAFILMS,EVALAURIA-RAÚLARAGÓNANDELPERROENLALUNACOPRODUCTION

LANOVIADELDESIERTO(THEDESERTBRIDE)

Argentina/Chile-78’-ImageScope-Sound5.1

SYNOPSISLOGLINETeresa’slifeisturnedupsidedownwhensheisforcedtoacceptajobfaraway.Onherway,shelosesherbag,causinghertocrosspathswithElGringo,atravelingsalesman.SYNOPSIS54-year-oldTeresahasworkedfordecadesasalive-inmaidwithafamilyinBuenosAires.Whenthefamilysellsthehouse,she is forcedtotakea job inthedistanttownofSanJuan.Althoughfeelinguncomfortablewithtraveling,sheembarksonajourneythroughthedesert.Duringherfirststop,inthelandofthemiraculous“SaintCorrea”,shelosesherbagwithallherbelongings.ThisunexpectedincidentleadshertocrosspathswithElGringo,atravelingsalesmanandtheonlypersonwhocanhelpTeresafindherbag.Whatseemedliketheendofherworldwillultimatelyprovehersalvation.

DIRECTORS’NOTE“Onlybycrossingthedesertcanwefindourselves.”Ourfilmproposesajourneythroughthedesert,adesertthatworksasametaphor:Thediscomfortofself-exploration.AtthestartofthefilmTeresainhabitsaworldsheknows,andinappearance,asafeworld.Shebelievessheformspartofafamilytowhichshededicatedherlife.Theyearshavegonebyandsheclingstothelittlesheactuallyhas.Butcircumstanceschangeandeverythingshebelievedinsuddenlyfallsapart.Now54-year-oldTeresahasnowheretogo.Althoughformanythiswouldbetheendofthestory,forusitisabeginning.Becausewebelievethattheabsenceofthissecurityiswhatcansuddenlyrevealtousunexploredinnerpotential;itwillleadus to confront feelingsanddesires thatwecannotevenacknowledgeasourown. ForTeresa, thejourneythroughthedesertwillslowlyawakenher,allowinghertofinallybecomeawareofherownundiscoveredstrength.ThedesertishostileandTeresa’sjourneyalongthehighwaytakesaviewerbacktothefoundingmythofthisSanctuary:DeolindaCorreacrossedthedesertanddiedofthirstwithherbabyinherarms,butthebabysurvivedbybreast-feedingfromhermother’sdeadbody.Itistheforceofnatureovercomingadversity;itisdestinychallengingpriorspeculation;itistheunforeseenasthedriverofchange.Inthismysticalandvitalcontext,Teresaexperiencesthefirstsetbackthatmodifiesevents:shelosesherbagcarryingallherpersonalbelongings.ThisunexpectedincidentleadshertocrosspathswithElGringo,acharismatictravelerwhowillbecomehercompanioninherquest.Likeanextensionoftheformeruniverse,ElGringoandhispickupareoutlinedagainstthearidCuyanolandscape,amenacingandattractiveoption,awakeninginTeresathefascinationprovokedbyallcontradictions.As they journey together through the differentworlds unfolding around them, this silent, opaquewomanslowlybecomestingedwithlifeandcolor.Althougheveryuniversewillhavethecharacteristicsoftheverypersonwhoinhabitsit,theywillalladduptothesamedirectiontowhichtheSanctuaryhas pointed since the beginning of the journey: Introducing Teresa to theworld’s variety and theinescapablepotentialoflife.Atatimewhentheouterworldtriestoconvinceusthatwhatisnotexperiencedinouryouthwillmostlikelynevertakeplace,wewishtoreclaimthevalueoftheprocess,ofthesearch,ofthepassageoftime–theworkthatisneededtogrowandfindthatsafeplacewhereitreallyexists,withinoneself.

CeciliaAtánandValeriaPivato

INTERVIEWWITHTHEDIRECTORSTellusabouttheoriginsofthefilm?ThestartingpointofLaNoviadelDesiertowasbeingabletorepresentafeelingofanon-placethroughacharacter.Teresaisawomanaged54whohaddedicatedherlifetolookingafterafamilyandlivedinaworldwhichfeltlikeherown,althoughinfact,itwasn’t.Atthestartofthefilm,thehousewhereshehasworkedfor30yearsissoldandhercircumstancessuddenlychange,herworldfallingapartintheblinkofaneye.Thedizzinessanduncertaintythatleavingthissafespacepromptsinherbecomesthemotorforchangethatleadshertoembarkonanunplannedquest,puttingherintouchwithherdesiresandconfrontingherwiththeworld.Howdidthefilminggo?The atmosphere during the shoot was very special, given that co-directing by two women is notcommon–atleastnotinLatinAmerica.Inthissense,wetriedtotransformthisparticularityintoanasset,drawingthemostfromtheindividualcapacitiesofeachofus.Filminginthedesertraisedallkindofchallenges,butwealwaysstrivedtomaintainagoodenergyandtheunityofthecrew.Inthisrespect,beingaduoallowedustofacesetbackswithgreaterstrength,andtodiscussthingstoarriveatthebestdecision.Tellusabouttheactors?LaNoviadelDesiertoistoldthroughtwomarvelousactors,PaulinaGarcía(Chilean)andClaudioRissi(Argentinian).WesentPaulinaafirstversionofthescriptin2013andsheimmediatelyfellinlovewiththeprojectandhercharacter.Sincethen,weembarkedtogetheronthewonderfuljourneythatisafilm.Paulina’sinterpretation,andthetimewespentworkingtogetherduringpreparationforfilmingmadeTeresaasubtlebeing,builtaroundthebodylanguageandsilence.Eventoday,eachtimeweseethefilm,wearesurprisedtonoticetheexquisitedetailsintheconstructionofhercharacter.PaulinaandTeresabecameoneduringtheprocessandattheendoftheshoot,shebadefarewelltoTeresainawaythatwasbothendearingandpowerful:TodayisthelastdayofTeresaintheCuyanodesert.Iwillletyougoheretonight,whereyoudespairedsomuchandweresoconfused.Iamleavingyouhereforever,likethelateCorrea.Beneaththevastskies,mercilesssunsandseductivewinds.Today,Iwilltakeaminutetorememberyouforthelasttimeonapaththatisdry,yetparadoxicallygreen,likeyou.Alltheexperience-memoryislefthere.Iwillturnoutthatlight,andLANOVIADELDESIERTOwilllightup.Alittlebottleofwaterinyourname.PaulinaGarcía,16December2016.ClaudioRissi’sperformanceasElGringonodoubttransformedhimintoamemorablecharacter,whotakesonlifeandfluiditythroughthedualdimensionofmenacingattractionandgentleseduction.Inhisdelightful,finelines,thecharacterconveysagreatLatinAmericanpart,capturedbytheactorwithcoherenceandhonesty.

Whatwereyoursourcesofinspiration?Fortunately,wehavebothworkedformanyyearsaspartofthecrewofsomegreatdirectors.Indoingso,wehaveacquiredsomeverydifferentandindividualwaysofdealingwiththevariousobstaclesthatcomeupinthecourseofmakingafilm.Sowhenwethinkaboutourinfluences,wethinkthatthefilmsethasbeenaplaceofapprenticeshipforus,duetotheproximity thisalloweduswithcreatorssuchasPabloTrapero, JuanCampanella,ChristopherHampton,andJuanSolanas,amongothers.Ofcourse,wehavealsobeeninfluencedbyforeigndirectors,mainlyasspectators,buttheexperienceofmorethan15yearsastechniciansonsetwasdecisiveinourtraining.

BEHINDTHECAMERACeciliaAtán,directorandscreenwriterCeciliaAtánwasbornin1978inBuenosAires.ShebeganhercareerasaninternwithdirectorEduardoMignognaonthesetofELFAROin1998,whichstarredRicardoDarín.Shethenbecameanassistantdirectorbeforemakingher first short film, ELMAR,whichwas invited to the Short FilmCorner inCannesin2012,beforescreeningincompetitionatfestivalsinBiarritzandMardelPlata.In2015,shedirectedthedocumentaryseriesineightepisodes,MADRESDEPLAZADEMAYO,LAHISTORIA,whichwasnominatedfortheInternationalEmmyAwardsthefollowingyear.LAFIANCÉEDUDÉSERTisherfirstfictionfeaturefilm.CeciliaAtánisalsoco-founderoftheproductioncompanyElPerroEnLaLuna,alongsideSebastiánMignognaandGuidoMignogna.ValeriaPivato,directorandscreenwriterValeriaPivatowasborn in1973 inBuenosAires.After studyingdesignand filmmaking, shebeganworkingasanassistantdirector,scriptsupervisorandcastingdirector.SheworkednotablywithJuanJoséCampanellaonLEFILSDELAMARIÉEin2001,andonDANSSESYEUX,whichwontheOscarforbest foreign languagefilm in2010.SheworkedasscriptsupervisoronNORDESTEbyJuanSolanas,whichscreenedinUnCertainRegardatCannesin2005.In2008,sheworkedwithPabloTraperoonLEONERA, which was presented in competition at the Festival de Cannes. In 2013, she won thePatagonikInternationalScreenwritersCompetitionwithBEFOREANDAFTER…ANDAFTERAGAIN.In2017,sheco-directedherfirstfeaturefilm,LAFIANCÉEDUDÉSERT,withCeciliaAtán.

INFRONTOFTHECAMERAPaulinaGarcíaActor,directoranddramatistborninSantiagodeChileon27November1960,PaulinaGarcíahaswonnumerousawardsthroughoutherlongcareer,forbothherfilmandstagework.Ahugestarinherhomecountry,herbreakoutinternationalfilmwasGLORIAbySebastiánLeilo,whichscreenedincompetitionattheBerlinFilmFestivalin2013,inwhichsheplayedthetitlerole.ShetookhometheSilverBearforherperformance,whichwonunanimouspraisefrominternationalcriticsandenjoyedasuccessfulreleaseinmanyterritories.Since then, she has alternated US independent films (BROOKLYN VILLAGE by Ira Sachs), majorinternationalproductions(NARCOS,anoriginalNetflixseries),Latin-Americanfilmsbyinternationallyrenowneddirectors(TOUTVABIENbyAlejandroFernandezAlmendras),anddebutfilms(THEDESERTBRIDE)byCeciliaAtánetValeriaPivato).Selectedfilmography2017 THEDESERTBRIDE(LANOVIADELDESIERTO),byCeciliaAtánandValeriaPivato

FestivaldeCannes(2017),UnCertainRegardELPRESIDENTE(LACORDILLERA),bySantiagoMitreFestivaldeCannes(2017),UnCertainRegard

2016 TOUTVABIEN(AQUÍNOHAPASADONADA),byAlejandroFernándezAlmendrasBerlinFilmFestival(2016),PanoramaSundanceFilmFestival(2016),CompetitionBROOKLYNVILLAGE(LITTLEMEN),byIraSachsSundanceFilmFestival(2016),OutofCompetitionBerlinFilmFestival(2016),Panorama

2015 VOIXOFF(LAVOZENOFF),byCristiánJiménezSanSebastiánFilmFestival(2014),OfficialSelectionTHE33(LOS33),byPatriciaRiggen

2014 NOSOYLORENA,byIsidoraMarrasUNCONCIERTOINOLVIDABLE:NUEVAOLA,LAPELÍCULA,byElíasLlanos

2013 GLORIA,bySebastiánLeiloBerlinFilmFestival(2013),SilverBearforbestactressLASANALFABETAS,byMoisésSepúlvedaVeniceFilmFestival(2013),CriticsWeekIAMFROMCHILE,byGonzaloDiazGENESISNIRVANA,byAlejandroLagos

2012 ELMURO,byPaulaBravo2007 CASADEREMOLIENDA,byJoaquínEyzaguirre2004 ELÚLTIMOSACRAMENTO,byCamiloBecerra2002 TRESNOCHESDEUNSÁBADO,byJoaquínEyzaguirre

ClaudioRissiClaudioRissi isanArgentinianactorbornon14April1947 inMonteGrande,BuenosAires.Hehasappeared inmore than30 films, includingVIESBRULÉESbyMarceloPiñeyro, LESNEUFREINESbyFabiánBielinsky,LUGARESCOMUNESbyAdolfoAristarain,ELFONDODELMARbyDamiánSzifron,andJUAN Y EVA by Paula de Luque. He has twicewon the best Supporting Actor award given by theAssociationofArgentineCritics;in2001for76-89-03byCristianBernardandFlavioNardini,thenin2012forABALLAY,ELHOMBRESINMIEDObyFernandoSpiner.ClaudioRissihasalsostarredinnumerousTVseries,suchasOKUPASandEPITAFIOS.In2016,heplayedMarioBorges, anunderworldboss in the series ELMARGINAL. Thishyper-realist immersion in theArgentinianprisonsystemwon11Tatos(ArgentineTVawards),andin2016wontheGrandPrixattheSeriesManiaFestival inParis,presidedoverbyDavidChase (creatorofTHESOPRANOS). ItwillbescreenedinFrancethisyearbyCanal+.From2014and2016,heplayedElTatitainTERRENAL,aplaywrittenanddirectedbyMauricioKartun,inwhichthecelebratedArgentiniandramatistrevisitsthemythofCainandAbel.Selectedfilmography2017THEDESERTBRIDE(LaNoviadelDesierto),byCeciliaAtánandValeriaPivatoFestivaldeCannes(2017),UnCertainRegard2015JUSTOENLOMEJORDEMIVIDA,byLeonardoFabioCalderón2011JUANYEVA,byPauladeLuque2010ABALLAY,ELHOMBRESINMIEDO,byFernandoSpinerAssociationofArgentineCritics(2012),BestScreenplay,BestSupportingActor,andBest

Cinematography2007MARTÍNFIERRO,LAPELÍCULA,byLilianaRomeroandNormanRuiz2005ELMATENAPERÓN,byFernandoMusante2004PALERMOHOLLYWOOD,byEduardoPinto SundanceFestival(2005),OfficialSelection2004PROXIMASALIDA,byNicolásTuozzoFestivaldeAmiens(2005),AudienceAward,PrixSIGNISandSpecialMention2003ELFONDODELMAR,byDamiánSzifron SanSebastiánFilmFestival(2003),PrixHorizontesFestivaldeToulouse(2004),CriticsAward2002LUGARESCOMUNES,byAdolfoAristarain SanSebastiánFilmFestival(2002),BestScreenplay,BestActress2000LESNEUFREINES,byFabiánBielinskyFestivaldeCognac(2002),GrandPrixandAudienceAward200076-89-03,byCristianBernardandFlavioNardiniAssociationofArgentineCritics(2001),BestSupportingActor2000VIESBRÛLÉES,byMarceloPiñeyroVeniceFilmFestival(2000),OfficialSelectionTorontoFilmFestival(2000),OfficialSelection1988LAAMIGA,byJeanineMeerapfelBerlinFilmFestival(1990),PeaceAward

ARTISTICLISTTeresa PaulinaGarciaGringo ClaudioRissiTECHNICALLISTWrittenandDirectedby: CeciliaAtánandValeriaPivatoDirectorofPhotography: SergioArmstrongArtDirector: MarielaRípodasEditedby: AndreaChignoliOriginalmusicby: LeoSujatovichSoundDesigner: MiguelHormazábalCostumedesign: BeatrizDiBenedettoandJamMontiProducedby: EvaLauría(Argentina)andAlejoCrisóstomo(Chile)Productioncompanies: ElPerroenlaLuna(Argentina)-CeibitaFilms(Chile)Co-producers: CeciliaAtán,ValeriaPivato,EvaLauríaandRaúlAragón.AssociateProducers: ZonaAudiovisual,HaddockFilms,VanessaRagone,

LuceroGarzón,FlorenciaPobleteandCarolinaAlvarez.InternationalSales: CitéFilmsFrenchdistribution: MementoFilmsDistribution