Peretti and Cazzu presented the world premiere of «Risa and the Wind Phone»

Risa and the Wind Phone was one of the most expected films of this 40^th edition of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival. Competing in the Argentine Competition, it had its world premiere this Monday, November 10, presented by actor Diego Peretti, singer and actress Julieta Cazzucheli, known as Cazzu, director Juan Cabral, and Elena Romero, who plays Risa.

With two screenings throughout the day at Cine Paseo Aldrey, audiences were able to engage in a Q&A session with the artists following the first showing. The project draws inspiration from the “wind phone,” a disconnected telephone booth installed in Japan near the area affected by the 2011 tsunami. It was originally created by Itaru Sasaki as a personal space to “speak” with his deceased cousin, later opened to the public to help people process their grief after the disaster.

After an extended round of welcoming applause, Peretti said: “It has its share of poetry—it’s a broad film. Being in Ushuaia helped us a lot. It’s a story with a heartbeat at its core. The phone booth spoke for itself. These are the kinds of films where you have to go into each scene with your whole being. Today I’ll be able to watch it on the big screen for the first time.”

For her part, Cazzu noted that it was her first experience as an actress: “It’s an incredible opportunity. I lived it from a completely new place, falling in love with the story. Acting wasn’t in my plans—the film came looking for me, and Juan saw something in me that I didn’t even know was there.”

Elena Romero added with emotion: “This is my first leading role, and it was truly fun. I learned so much from everyone involved.”

Finally, Cabral stated: “It’s a film about searching. I hope it keeps working within each of us—not as guidance, but as something to learn from.”

It is worth remembering that Risa and the Wind Phone is directed by Juan Cabral, an acclaimed Argentine filmmaker celebrated for his work in both advertising and cinema. A prominent figure in the creative industry, he is known for his distinctive vision and willingness to take artistic risks.Cabral was nominated by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in 2016 and 2022, and has received top industry honors, including two Grand Prix awards at Cannes. His feature debut, Two/One, premiered at Tribeca and had its global release on MUBI in 2020.  

Those wishing to see it again on the big screen can do so tonight at 10:30 p.m. and on Tuesday, November 11, at 4:50 p.m., both screenings at Cine Paseo Aldrey, located at Alberti 2115, Mar del Plata.