Maite Alberdi at the JBFC

This past November, the Jacob Burns Film Center welcomed Oscar-nominated filmmaker Maite Alberdi for a retrospective of her work. One of the rising stars in documentary filmmaking, the Chilean filmmaker has made a name for herself following interesting subjects who reveal more to the camera than just themselves. Through her subjects’ respective journeys, Alberdi gives audiences a fly-on-the-wall observational view of the human condition, leading us to contemplate our relationships with one another and appreciate slice-of-life looks into worlds different from our own. Among her growing number of accolades, Alberdi’s latest film The Eternal Memory is nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards this year while her previous film The Mole Agent was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards in 2021 and is currently being developed as a fiction series for Netflix (starring Ted Danson).

JBFC Director of Film Programs and Curator-in-Chief Ryan Harrington writes: “It was one of the greatest honors of my career to host this special retrospective of Maite’s work. I supported many of Maite’s films during my time at the Tribeca Film Institute and I believe that she is destined to join the great Latin American auteurs like Alfonso Cuarón, Lucrecia Martel, and Alejandro González Iñárritu. Over these many years, I’ve witnessed her growth as an artist and an international phenomenon—she is one of the rare storytellers who finds unexpected humanity and kindness in even the darkest of topics.”

Maite Alberdi: In Focus extended over three days with screenings of her works from across the years, including a program of her short films. The weekend culminated in a live Q&A with Maite—in a rare area appearance—that looked at her career, movies, and unique approach to documentary filmmaking. There were several documentary enthusiasts in the audience, along with a special student group from SUNY Purchase. The event was followed by a reception where audience members were able to grab a drink and chat with the Oscar-nominated director herself!

Maite Alberdi: In Focus was presented in partnership with Chile Doc, the Chilean Embassy, and Pro Chile.