Chilean Pinochet-Era Drama ‘The Red Hangar’ Sells to U.S., Spain, Italy (EXCLUSIVE)

“The Red Hangar” (“Hangar rojo”), Chilean Juan Pablo Sallato’s black & white fiction feature debut, which swept the Guadalajara Film Festival in April, has sold to U.S.-based company Pragda, marking its first all-rights acquisition for the U.S. and Canada.

International sales agent Premium Films/MPM Premium also sold the drama to Spain (Festival Films), Italy (I Wonder), Greece (Weird Wave), Poland (Cinobo) and Chile (Storyboard Media).

Related Stories

Pedro Almodóvar Calls Out the 2026 Oscars for Ignoring Politics: 'There Were Not Many Protests Against the War' in Gaza or Against Trump

Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association Hails New Oscar Rules in International Feature Category as 'Major Victory'

“’The Red Hangar’ represents exactly the kind of cinema we wanted to bring into our new line of business beyond the educational market: a socially conscious thriller that combines tension, a contemporary perspective and an especially timely subject matter, along with exceptional quality. It has all the elements to connect directly with North American audiences. We’re proud to embark on this journey alongside the team at MPM Premium,” said Pragda CEO, Marta Sanchez.

“When a client falls in love with a film within the first few minutes of viewing, all that remains is to trust their strategy and vision,” said Natalia Isotta, head of Ibero-american sales and worldwide festivals at MPM Premium, who is at the Cannes Film Festival.

The drama had its world premiere at the Berlinale’s Perspectives sidebar where Premium Films, in collaboration with subsidiary MPM Premium, snapped it up.

Set during the first three days of Chile’s 1973 military coup, the drama uncovers little-known events surrounding the overthrow of President Salvador Allende. It sheds light on a long-suppressed chapter of history, following Air Force officers and enlisted soldiers who opposed the coup and faced brutal punishment from their own institution.

Based on Fernando Villagrán’s book “Shoot the Flock,” the drama follows Captain Jorge Silva, a former Air Force Intelligence chief ordered to turn the Air Force Academy into the “Red Hangar,” a detention and torture center during Chile’s military coup.

“Since its Berlin premiere, the film has secured an excellent festival run and confirmed screenings across the U.S, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Critical response has been very positive, with praise for its format, cinematography and performances,” Isotta noted.

Before its triumphant run in Guadalajara, “The Red Hangar” also picked up four awards, including the Audience Award, at the Malaga Film Festival where lead Nicolás Zárate won the Silver Biznaga for his understated performance as Captain Silva.

“The Red Hangar” is lead produced by Villano Producciones (Chile), led by Juan Ignacio Sabatini, in co-production with Brava Cine and HD Argentina (Argentina), Rain Dogs, Berta Films and Caravan (Italy), with the participation of TVN Italia.