Fact Sheet / A Useful Life
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A Useful Life
(La Vida Útil)
Directed by Federico Veiroj
Spanish, with subtitles in English
Uruguay, 2010, 63 minutes
STORY
After twenty-five years, Cinemateca Uruguaya’s most devoted employee, Jorge (real-life
Uruguayan critic Jorge Jellinek), still finds his inspiration in caring for the films and audiences
that grace the seats and screen of his beloved arthouse cinema. But when dwindling attendance
and diminishing support force the theater to close its doors, Jorge is sent into a world he knows
only through the lens of art—and suddenly forced to discover a new passion that transcends his
once-celluloid reality. Stylishly framed in black-and-white with brilliantly understated
performances, Federico Veiroj’s sly and loving homage to the soul of cinema is a universally
appealing gem and knowing charmer about life after the movies. Detailed synopsis available
upon request.
CAST
Jorge
Martínez
Paola
Jorge Jellinek
Manuel Martínez Carril
Paola Venditto
CREDITS
Director
Writers
Federico Veiroj
Inés Bortagaray
Arauco Hernández
Gonzalo Delgado
Federico Veiroj
Federico Veiroj
Laura Gutman
Juan José López
Arauco Hernández
Arauco Hernández
Federico Veiroj
Raúl Locatelli
Daniel Yafalián
Leo Masliah & Macunaíma
Eduardo Fabini
Executive Producer
Producers
Director of Photography
Editor
Sound
Music
Distributed by The Global Film Initiative
145 Ninth Street Suite 105
San Francisco CA 94103
[email protected]
www.globalfilm.org
Fact Sheet / A Useful Life
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ABOUT THE DIRECTOR: FEDERICO VEIROJ
Federico Veiroj was born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1976. He received a degree in Social
Communication from the Catholic University of Uruguay and began making short films in 1996.
His first feature film, Acne, won the Films in Progress TVE Award at the 2007 San Sebastián
International Film Festival, premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes and went on to win
the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 AFI Festival in Los Angeles. A Useful Life is his second feature
film.
ABOUT THE FILM: A USEFUL LIFE
REVIEWS
“The sensitivity in this segment is a mark to Veiroj’s keen eye towards material and architectural
detail surrounding his film, as well as the humor and pleasingly, gently inert humanity embodied
in Martínez Carrilo’s affably schlumpy, rarely emotive and entirely effective
performance. Definitely one of the festival’s finest films, which I was count my blessings I was
able to see in an actual theater, albeit a multiplex and not a cinematheque.” – THE DAILY
NOTEBOOK
“I strongly encourage anyone in love with cinema not to miss the opportunity to watch this droll
film at any festival where it's programmed.” – THE EVENING CLASS
“Shot in luscious black and white, ‘A Useful Life’ illustrates the difficulties of maintaining
cultural institutions in developing countries.” – INDIEWIRE
“What begins as a seemingly dry work directed purely at cinephiles evolves almost invisibly into
a droll romantic comedy, and marks a clear step forward for Veiroj.” – VARIETY
“Federico Veiroj’s thoughtful and delicate second feature contemplates the value of outmoded
occupations with this evocative (and alarming!) depiction of life at the end of a cinematheque. It
marks a departure from his celebrated debut Acne, but for anyone who loves cinema in its purest
form, this film will be a revelation.” – TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FESTIVALS AND AWARDS
2009
Nominated, Best Foreign Film, Spanish Language, GOYA AWARDS
Films in Progress TVE Award, SAN SEBASTIÁN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
2010
Uruguay’s Official Entry for the 83rd Academy Awards, Best Foreign Language Film
Best Director, VALDIVIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Coral Grand Prize, Best Film, NEW LATINAMERICAN CINEMA OF LA HAVANA
Official Selection, TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selection, PUSAN FILM FESTIVAL
In Competition, ZURICH FILM FESTIVAL
145 Ninth Street Suite 105
San Francisco CA 94103
[email protected]
www.globalfilm.org
Fact Sheet / A Useful Life
Page 3 of 3
Special Mention, International Competition, WARSAW INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Special Mention, Zabaltegi, SAN SEBASTIÁN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
2011
THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ROTTERDAM FILM FESTIVAL
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
GÖTEBORG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
GENEVA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
CARTAGENA FILM FESTIVAL
ADELAIDE FILM FESTIVAL
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
JERUSALEM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
SARAJEVO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FICUNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico International Film Festival)
TOULOUSE LATIN AMERICA FILM FESTIVAL
BAFICI (Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival)
U.S. DISTRIBUTOR: THE GLOBAL FILM INITIATIVE
A Useful Life is part the Global Lens film series and can be seen through public screenings of
Global Lens 2011 at participating venues across the United States and Canada. After 2011, A
Useful Life and all Global Lens 2011 films become available in home video, television,
educational, internet and airline markets.
The Global Film Initiative is a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization specializing in the support
of independent film from Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle
East. Founded in 2002 to promote cross-cultural understanding through the language of cinema,
the Initiative awards numerous grants to deserving filmmakers from around the world each year,
and supports a touring film series entitled Global Lens. For more information about the Global
Lens film series or Global Film Initiative programs, please use the following links:
Global Lens 2011
Global Film Initiative programs
www.globalfilm.org/calendar.php
www.globalfilm.org/programs.htm
Contact:
The Global Film Initiative
145 Ninth Street, Suite 105
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 934-9500
Fax: (415) 934-9501
[email protected]
www.globalfilm.org
145 Ninth Street Suite 105
San Francisco CA 94103
[email protected]
www.globalfilm.org