Biography
Miguel Ernesto Littín Cucumides is a Chilean film director, screenwriter, producer, and novelist. He directed El Chacal de Nahueltoro (1969), the most popular Chilean film ever, establishing himself as a prominent figure in New Latin American Cinema.
In Mexico, Littín directed several films, including Letters from Marusia, based on a Chilean miners' strike, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He also directed El Recurso del Método (Long Live the President), adapted from Alejo Carpentier's novel and co-produced by Mexico, France, and Cuba. Another work was The Widow of Montiel, starring Geraldine Chaplin and based on a Gabriel García Márquez short story. He later went to Nicaragua to film Alsino and the Condor, adapted from Pedro Prado's novel Alsino. In 1981, he served as a jury member at the 12th Moscow International Film Festival.
After relocating to Spain in 1984, Littín secretly re-entered Chile to create a documentary depicting life under Pinochet's regime. This experience was chronicled by Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Márquez in the book Clandestine in Chile: The Adventures of Miguel Littín.
He eventually returned to Chile and continued directing films, including Tierra del Fuego, inspired by the adventures of explorer Julius Popper, and Dawson, Isla 10, which portrays political prisoners sent to Dawson Island during Pinochet’s rule. Littín also served as mayor of his hometown, Palmilla, in the central valley from 1992 to 1994 and was re-elected for 1996 to 2000.
Both Actas de Marusia and Alsino and the Condor were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Alsino and the Condor won the Golden Prize at the 13th Moscow International Film Festival.
His 2005 film, The Last Moon, was featured at the 27th Moscow International Film Festival.
11 wins and 15 nominations
