Kino Lorber acquired Manuela Martelli’s 1976, which made its world premiere at this year’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and will be released in North America as Chile 1976. Kino Lorber is planning a theatrical release next winter.

The directorial debut of Chilean actress Manuela Martelli (Machuca, Il Futuro), Chile 1976 is written by Martelli and Alejandra Moffat and stars Aline Kuppenheim, reuniting with her Machuca co-star Martelli, alongside Nicolás Sepúlveda, Hugo Medina, and Alejandro Goic.

Set during the early days of Augusto Pinochet’s brutal dictatorship, Chile 1976 builds from quiet character study to gripping suspense thriller as it explores one woman’s precarious flirtation with political engagement. Carmen (Aline Kuppenheim), who leads a sheltered upper middle class existence, heads to her summer house to supervise its renovation, while also performing local charitable works through her church. When the family priest asks her to take care of an injured young man he has been sheltering in secret, Carmen is inadvertently drawn into the world of the Chilean political opposition and must face real-world threats she is unprepared to handle, leading to disastrous consequences.

Watch the trailer for Chile 1976.

“I am glad that 1976 will be part of a catalog along with other important films that have influenced me. Kino Lorber is an amazing partner to reach North American audiences and to have the film be seen as much as possible,” said Manuela Martelli.