Latin Quarter Distribution has secured worldwide sales rights to “Maltrato Animal,” a Uruguayan crime thriller directed by José Dell’Acqua. The deal was finalized after the film’s screening at Locarno’s First Look, a showcase for rough-cut films from emerging and established filmmakers. The event this year focused on Uruguayan cinema, with the film presented by the Agencia del Cine y el Audiovisual del Uruguay (ACAU).
The narrative follows a veterinarian in Montevideo whose financial circumstances deteriorate during Uruguay’s 2002 economic crisis. Unable to afford basic necessities, the protagonist becomes involved in illegal animal breeding operations and unlicensed pharmaceutical distribution. An unforeseen meeting introduces the possibility of altering his trajectory. The production involved Dell’Acqua and German Ormaechea as producers and featured an entirely Uruguayan cast alongside cinematographer Germán Couto and costume designer Victoria Zavaleta, among other local crew members.
Filming took place over a four-year span, with one week of shooting each year. The project spent eight years in development and combines documentary elements with fictional storytelling to examine personal and collective memory surrounding the pivotal 2002 financial crisis. Dell’Acqua both directed and wrote the film, which brought together multiple first-time department heads working on feature productions. The director emphasized the project’s goal to explore how an entire generation was shaped by the economic upheaval.
Juan G. Castro, founder of The Hague-based Latin Quarter Distribution, noted the company’s focus on distinctive voices in Latin American arthouse cinema and expressed enthusiasm about supporting emerging talent from Uruguay. Post-production work is anticipated to conclude by the end of 2026.
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