Ximena Valdivia is a Chilean-American film director and screenwriter. Born in Santiago, Chile, she is one of Latin America's most prolific female filmmakers. Her works are characterized by a unique blend of realism and fantasy, melding the everyday with the extraordinary.
Valdivia first discovered her passion for film at a young age, when she began making short films with her father's Super 8 camera. After graduating from the University of Chile, where she majored in film studies and English literature, she traveled to the United States to pursue her dream of becoming a filmmaker.
In the US, Valdivia attended the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting and Directing. She also took part in the prestigious Sundance Screenwriters Lab, where she had the opportunity to work with some of the most renowned filmmakers in the industry.
Valdivia's debut feature film, The Wind That Blows Through, was released in 2007. It was praised for its innovative use of fantasy elements and its exploration of the power of the subconscious. The film earned Valdivia a Goya Award nomination for Best Spanish-Language Film and won numerous awards at film festivals around the world.
Since then, Valdivia has continued to make thoughtful and thought-provoking films. Her second feature, The First Night, won the Golden Shell at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and was nominated for seven Goya Awards. Other notable works include The Orphanage, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival; and The Sea of Trees, which starred Matthew McConaughey and Ken Watanabe.
Valdivia's films have been recognized for their honest and sensitive portrayals of characters from diverse backgrounds. She is a passionate advocate for female filmmakers, and she has been a vocal proponent of gender equality in the film industry.
Through her work, Valdivia has established herself as one of the most respected and accomplished filmmakers in the world. Her films have been praised for their lush visuals, complex themes, and deeply-felt emotion. She has also been recognized for her unique voice, blending the personal with the political, and the real with the fantastic.
