Welcoming foreign shoots while the rest of Latin America was in Covid lockdown, Uruguay has benefited from a growing influx of international productions, with local talent and crew gaining invaluable on-set experience.

National production has increased to nearly pre-pandemic levels, 33 features in 2023, on a par with 2019, and 30 features in 2024, way up on 2016’s 11 features produced.

Uruguay’s film industry has also grown in diversity in terms of genres and co-productions. Last year also saw 32 local theatrical releases, with documentaries making up the bulk but also featuring Montelona co-produced “A Blue Bird,” the latest from “Las Acacias” director Ariel Rotter, and the 2024 Cannes Critics’ Week winner “Simon of the Mountain” by Federico Luis.

Driving growth are powerhouse companies led by Cimarrón, a Mediapro company, which provided production services to J.A. Bayona’s Oscar-nominated “Society of the Snow” and Daniel Burman’s Rose d’Or Latino winner “Yosi, the Regretful Spy.” Cimarrón,...