Manuela Martelli’s Chilean mystery film “The Meltdown” (“El Deshielo”) lands in U.S. theaters in early 2027 after its Cannes Film Festival world premiere in Un Certain Regard. Kino Lorber acquired the movie, with additional digital, educational, and home video
A Chilean mystery film that debuted at Cannes is heading for U.S. theaters—just not right away.
Manuela Martelli’s “The Meltdown” (“El Deshielo”) will arrive in the United States in early 2027, courtesy of Kino Lorber. The international distribution company picked up the movie on Wednesday after its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. After its theatrical run, further releases are planned across digital, educational, and home video platforms.
The story is set in 1992. two years after Augusto Pinochet’s regime ended. when Chile is described in the film’s logline as being in the midst of an economic miracle. Nine-year-old Inés spends time at her grandparents’ Andean ski resort while her parents attend a trade conference in Seville. There. she befriends Hanna. a German teenager training to become a competitive skier while rebelling against the strict rules of her regimented life.
The mystery begins when Hanna vanishes without a trace. Her mother enlists Inés as a translator, pulling the young girl into a search that exposes hidden truths—truths that test Inés’ loyalties and echo Chile’s dark history.
Martelli’s film is built around a young ensemble and established Chilean talent. The movie stars Maya O’Rourke, Maia Rae Domagala, Saskia Rosendahl, Jakub Gierszal, Paulina Urrutia and Mauricio Pešutić. The Chile, Spain, Mexico and U.S. co-production is produced by Alejandra García for Ronda Cine, Alex C. Lo for Cinema Inutile, and Andrés Wood for Wood Producciones. Co-producers include María Zamora for Elastica Films. Julio Chavezmontes for Piano. and Pablo Díaz for Fundación Río.
For Martelli. the deal is about reach—especially for a film she frames as a return to a pivotal period in Chile’s past. “I am very happy to be renewing our collaboration with Kino Lorber and Trigon Film. who released ‘Chile ’76’ in the United States and Switzerland. ” she said in a statement. “It is very encouraging to know that ‘The Meltdown’ will have a life in so many territories. That is what ultimately gives a film its true meaning and purpose: reaching people. ‘The Meltdown’ deals with a moment in Chile’s history when democracy was only just beginning to recover after a long period of dictatorship. I hope that this exercise of revisiting history will resonate with audiences around the world and help us feel closer to one another. In the end, I believe our histories are often far more connected and similar than we tend to imagine.”.
Kino Lorber’s enthusiasm comes with a clear sense of what it believes the film will deliver to viewers. “We are thrilled to be reteaming with Manuela Martelli, whose previous film ‘Chile ‘76’ was a hit with U.S. critics and audiences alike,” said Kino Lorber VP of Acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer. “With ‘The Meltdown. ’ she once again brilliantly employs elements of mystery/thriller filmmaking to explore Chile’s political history from the perspective of strong and complex female protagonists.”.
There’s a specific tension at the center of the project: a vanished teenager. a child recruited into the search. and a country still learning what comes after dictatorship. Starting in 1992. as Chile’s “economic miracle” period takes shape. the film uses a disappearance to pull the past into the present—then brings that same knot of history and suspense to a wider audience. with the U.S. theatrical release set for early 2027.
The Meltdown El Deshielo Kino Lorber Manuela Martelli Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard Chilean mystery film early 2027 U.S. theatrical release Maya O’Rourke Paulina Urrutia