ELISA LEIVA ANDERSON

Elisa Leiva Anderson (b. 1991) is a filmmaker and editor from Santiago, Chile. Rooted in a family history of political struggle, her work often engages with legacies of resistance, the poetics of exile, and the unstable boundaries of nonfiction. She is drawn to discarded images and sounds, fragmented narratives, and cinema as a collaborative practice and collective experience.

For five years, she was Head of International Relations at CinemaChile, representing Chilean cinema at over 40 international festivals—including Cannes, Berlin, and Rotterdam. This experience informed a decolonial framework that questions dominant paradigms of film circulation within Global South and Latin American contexts.

Her most recent film as editor, Towards the Sun Far from the Center, premiered at Berlinale Shorts. She holds an MFA in Documentary Film/Video from Stanford University (2023–25) and a B.A in Film & Television Production from the University of Chile (2011–16).

FILMS.

TOWARDS, THE SUN FAR FROM THE CENTER (2024) — Editor

Berlinale Shorts, FICCI Cartagena, New York Film Festival, Hong Kong International Film Festival, Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival (Best Visual Concept), Curtas Vila do Conde, SANFIC, Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana, Leiden Shorts, Kasseler Dokfest, Festival Internacional de Cine de Viña del Mar (Best Latin American Short Film), Ibiza Cinefest, Festival Cinematográfico Internacional del Uruguay (Best Short Film), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival, Cinema Jove Valencia, Brussels Short Film Festival, Festival Silhouette Paris (Prix du Jury Hybride), Festifreak La Plata, Kerala International Documentary and Short Film Festival, ÑubleCine Festival.

TO BURN A DESERT (2024) — Editor

+RAIN Film Festival (Barcelona, Spain) and Nemaf Korea (Seoul, South Korea)

VIEWS (2016) — Director, Editor, Sound Designer & Producer

Valdivia International Film Festival (Chile), Santiago International Documentary Film Festival (Chile)

BURRO (2014) — Director, Editor & Producer

Caracas International Film Festival (Venezuela), Rengo International Film Festival (Chile)

LAS VECINAS (2013) — Director, Editor, Sound Designer & Producer

Chilean National Human Rights Institute Award

TEACHING

Stanford University — Instructor of Film Production
Department of Art & Art History | Stanford, CA | 2024
Taught foundational digital video production, covering directing, cinematography, editing, and sound design using digital cameras and Adobe Premiere Pro. Guided students through the full production cycle, from concept development to postproduction, within documentary and experimental frameworks. Led final short film projects, offering hands-on instruction & feedback.

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile — Instructor of Short Film Distribution
Department of Communication Studies | Santiago, Chile | 2022–2023
Taught international short film distribution with an emphasis on real-world distribution strategies within the Latin American and global film industries. Introduced a critical framework to analyze film circulation and festival strategy from a Global South perspective, encouraging students to reflect on the cultural and political dynamics shaping visibility in the international film industry.

DISTRIBUTION & FILM PROMOTION

CINEMACHILE
General Editor & Head of International Relations
Santiago, Chile | 2017 – 2022

Represented Chilean cinema at 40+ international festivals and markets, including: Cannes, Berlin, Rotterdam, Locarno, Toronto, San Sebastián, Tokyo, Malága, Karlovy Vary, Madrid Co-Production Week, Rome MIA Market, BAM (Mercado de Bogotá), Ventana Sur (Buenos Aires), MIPCOM Televison Market (Cannes), among others.
Cultivated partnerships with festival directors and programmers, sales agents, press, and streaming platforms to expand the global presence of Chilean film and series.
Led a 10-person editorial team in the creation of original content for both general audiences and the global film industry— digital catalogs, podcasts, video campaigns, and editorial pieces.
Oversaw the agency’s cross-platform marketing strategy across Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, websites, and VOD/streaming platforms.
Facilitated co-production meetings, Q&As, and public programming at major industry events, connecting Chilean creators with international collaborators.
Contributed to the organization and execution of Chile’s participation as “Country in Focus” at the European Film Market (Berlinale 2020), in partnership with ProChile and ChileDoc. Represented Chilean cinema on the international stage, supporting strategic promotion, industry engagement, and event coordination in Berlin (July 2019 - March 2020).
Advocated for a diverse and independent Chilean cinema by supporting emerging filmmakers and expanding access to international platforms, with a focus on equity, cultural dialogue, and challenging dominant narratives in the global film industry.

CURATION & ARCHIVAL RESEARCH

APPLE TV+ SERIES — Archival Research
Remote | APRIL – JULY 2022

Conducted in-depth archival research for a documentary series on Chilean politicians during the dictatorship.
Sourced rare audiovisual materials, photographs, and historical documents.
Provided cultural and political context to ensure accuracy and depth in the storytelling.

CINEMACHILE — Curator & Program Editor
Santiago, Chile | 2020–2021

Curated “THURSDAYS OF CHILEAN CINEMA” and “TUESDAYS OF CHILEAN SERIES”, biweekly streaming events that reached over 800,000 viewers worldwide.
Researched and wrote articles on program themes, filmmaker spotlights, and retrospectives.
Led digital marketing efforts, including audiovisual and graphic content strategy.

CCMATTA CULTURAL CENTER — Curator, "MIRA PA'CÁ: LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA PROGRAM"
Buenos Aires, Argentina | 2020

Selected Chilean short and feature-length films for a regional cinema showcase.
Framed programming within broader themes of Latin American visual culture and political memory.

UPPSALA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL — Curator, “CHILE NOW!” Retrospective
Uppsala, Sweden | 2018

Curated a retrospective of contemporary Chilean short films, introducing new voices in Chilean cinema to Swedish audiences.

“THE OTHER CINEMA” BY COTI DONOSO — Archival Research, Investigation, & Writing
Chile | 2015

Co-developed a book project examining non-fiction editing practices in contemporary Chilean cinema.
Contributed to archival research, interviews, and critical writing on the intersection of documentary form and editorial vision.

CINETECA, UNIVERSITY OF CHILE — Archival Research & Editing Assistant
Santiago, Chile | 2013

Conducted archival research and assisted with film restoration and editing.
Supported efforts to preserve and curate Chile’s cinematic heritage for academic and public access.

LECTURES & PANELS.

UNIVERSITY OF CHILE — Lecturer, Graduate Documentary Program
Santiago, Chile | 2020–2021

Led a seminar on the global promotion and distribution of Chilean cinema. Focused on festival strategy and circulation through a decolonial lens, encouraging students to critically engage with Eurocentric gatekeeping in the global film industry.

PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE CHILE — Lecturer, Undergraduate Film Program
Santiago, Chile | 2020–2021

Led a seminar on positioning Chilean films within national and international markets, highlighting collaborative practices and challenges of representing Latin American cinema in a global context.

FECICH – FILM FESTIVAL OF QUILPUÉ— Masterclass: Chilean Film Circulation
Quilpué, Chile | 2018

Delivered a masterclass on navigating national and international exhibition circuits.
Offered critical tools for filmmakers to question dominant paradigms of value and visibility.

MINISTRY OF CULTURES, ARTS AND HERITAGE — Jury Member, Chilean National Film Fund
Chile | 2018

Served on a six-member committee assessing funding proposals for two areas: web-based projects, and physical projects involving cinema installation and repair designed to enhance access for Chilean audiences to their local cinemas.

FICVIÑA – VIÑA DEL MAR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL — Masterclass Presenter: CinemaChile & Global Promotion
Viña del Mar, Chile | 2018

Presented “CinemaChile: The Internationalization of the Chilean Audiovisual Industry,” emphasizing the importance of reclaiming authorship and visibility in international circuits.

XVI SANTO TOMÁS FILM FESTIVAL — Jury Member, Short Film Competition
Chile | 2018

Provided feedback and selected winning films based on narrative and aesthetic strength.

ADDITIONAL CREDITS

2017
Assistant Editor — The Sky is Red by Francina Carbonell

International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam – IDFA (2020, Official Selection), Montreal International Documentary Festival – RIDM (2021, Official Selection), Guadalajara International Film Festival – FICG (2021, Winner: Best Feature Documentary and Best Ibero-American Feature Documentary), Mar del Plata International Film Festival (2021, Winner: FEISAL Prize), Valdivia International Film Festival (2021, Official Selection).

2016
Assistant Producer — Holly Near: Singing for Our Lives by Jim Brown

ELISALEIVA@GMAIL.COM