Wolfe Video has acquired North American rights for Chilean director Sebastián Lelio’s musical film The Wave (La Ola), taking inspiration from the wave of feminist civil disobedience that swept Chile in the spring of 2018.
The work marks Lelio’s first film in his native Chile since his 2017 Oscar winner A Fantastic Woman, with feature credits in between including Gloria Bell and The Wonder.
Daniela López makes her big screen debut as a dedicated music student who becomes the unexpected central figure in the feminist uprising at her university campus.
Through dancing and singing in the excitement of protest marches with her peers, her testimony of harassment and abuse becomes the spark that challenges, stirs and questions her polarized society.
Lola Bravo, Avril Aurora and Paulina Cortés co-star in the Spanish language musical with music composed by Matthew Herbert (Disobedience) and choreography by Emmy award winner Ryan Heffington (Euphoria).
The original musical compositions were created collaboratively by 17 female Chilean musicians including Ana Tijoux, Camila Moreno and Javiera Parra.
Lelio wrote the screenplay with Manuela Infante, Josefina Fernández and Paloma Salas.
The film was produced by Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Sebastián Lelio and Rocío Jadue for Fabula Productions, with Executive Producers Christian Vesper and Seb Shorr for Fremantle, Robert Kessel and David Linde for Participant and Mariane Hartard for Fabula Productions. It was co-financed by Participant and Fremantle.
“I am deeply grateful to Wolfe Video for their enthusiasm and energy towardsThe Wave,” said Lelio. “The film’s premiere in the United States is a source of immense joy for us and a tremendous opportunity for its spirit—that blend of the contingent politics with playfulness and splendor that the genre demands—to resonate in a country with a long and vibrant tradition of musical cinema.
“We are living in a time of intense polarization worldwide, and The Wave invites us to open our minds to the possibility that humor, song, dancing, and overflowing emotion can help us better comprehend the dilemmas we face today through a celebration that explores challenging and complex issues. Thank you, Wolfe Video.”
Fabula’s Jadue added: “The Wave is a film with ambitious staging and a large ensemble cast led mostly by emerging actors, portraying how new paradigms and rights have been built from Latin American universities out into society. It is a visually and emotionally engaging journey that invites reflection in the audience.”
The acquisition was negotiated by Evan Schwartz, Head of Content for Wolfe Video and FilmNation Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers.
“Wolfe Video is officially reborn with our acquisition of The Wave,” said Schwartz. “I am beyond excited to partner with the titans of industry at Fabula, Fremantle and FilmNation in this transformative moment for Wolfe Video’s legacy. I can’t wait for audiences to experience Sebastián’s cinematic musical statement next year.”
The Wave world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Cannes Premiere Section and premiered in the U.S. at the NVISION Latino Film & Music Festival in Miami where Sebastián Lelio was awarded the NVISIONARY Award and the film won the award for Best International Feature.
Wolfe Video will release La Ola (The Wave) in theaters in North America in 2026.
