The Hyperboreans

Director's bio

Cristóbal León , Joaquín Cociña

Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña, both born in 1980 in Chile, have been collaborating since 2007. Both attended the Catholic University of Chile, with León furthering his studies at UDK (Berlin) and De Ateliers (Amsterdam). Through their experimental films, León & Cociña offer a fresh interpretation of religious symbolism and magical rituals deeply entrenched in Latin America’s traditional culture. Their film production incorporates various techniques, including photography, drawing, sculpture, dance, and performance. Their stop-motion films are characterized by a raw cinematic language, where papier-mâché figures and innocent-looking drawings starkly contrast with themes such as religion, sex, and death prevalent in their works. Winners of prestigious awards, their films are regularly featured at international film festivals and showcased in museums and biennials across Latin America. They have exhibited their work at renowned venues such as the Whitechapel Gallery, the Guggenheim Museum NY, KW Berlin, AJG Gallery Seville 2012, Art Basel Hong Kong Film section 2014, the Venice Biennale 2013 (representing Chile in the Latin American pavilion), and Art Basel Statements 2012. Their debut feature film, “The Wolf House” (2018), garnered acclaim for its innovative approach. Shot in various public locations such as museums, cultural centers, and art galleries, it premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival 2018, earning the Caligari Award in the Forum section. The film has since been screened at over 100 festivals, receiving more than 12 awards and mentions. Three years later, their animated short “Los Huesos” (2021) debuted at the Venice Film Festival, earning the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film. Their second feature film, “The Hyperboreans,” celebrated its World Premiere at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.