Mubi acquires Manuela Martelli’s ‘The Meltdown’

Global film distributor Mubi has acquired ‘The Meltdown’ (El Deshielo), the latest drama from Chilean director Manuela Martelli. The film, which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, is scheduled to stream on the platform later this year following its screening at the San Sebastián Film Festival in September.

Set at an Andes ski resort in post-Pinochet Chile, the film follows a young girl witnessing unsettling events. It is a co-production involving entities from Chile, the United States, Mexico, and Spain, and is currently in contention to represent Chile at the Oscars and Spain at the Goya Awards.

The acquisition occurs amid significant budget reductions for Chile’s audiovisual sector under President José Antonio Kast. While the Ministry of Culture reported an overall 9% reduction for next year, the Audiovisual Investment Support Fund is projected to drop from approximately $586,000 in 2026 to $208,000 in 2027, representing a 64% decrease.