Rocío Huerta’s debut feature, produced by JUNTOS, joins the first edition of CineLab under the mentorship of Argentine filmmaker Celina Murga.
Adolescence, the search for identity, and the bond between mother and daughter intertwine in Reina Japonesa, a JUNTOS production that marks Rocío Huerta’s first feature film.
The project was selected to participate in the inaugural edition of CineLab, a program promoted by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity in partnership with the Chilean Film Academy. As part of the lab, the film will receive mentorship from acclaimed Argentine director Celina Murga (Escuela Normal, The Smell of Freshly Cut Grass), who will accompany the project’s creative development.
This year’s edition, titled “Chile en Femenino”, celebrates projects led by women (cis, trans, or anyone who identifies with a female gender experience) that are in advanced stages of development. Through international mentorship, script, production, and distribution consultations, and specialized creative guidance, the lab seeks to strengthen the authorship and international projection of emerging Chilean filmmakers.
“Participating in CineLab is an invaluable opportunity to open the creative process of the film to new perspectives and strengthen its path toward production,” says Rocío Huerta, the film’s director.
At JUNTOS, we celebrate this recognition as a decisive step forward for Reina Japonesa. “CineLab represents a much-needed space: it connects new voices with real opportunities for visibility and mentorship. It’s a bridge between emerging talent and the industry, and at the same time, a chance for first features to grow with confidence and an international outlook,” notes Felipe Egaña, partner and producer at JUNTOS.