Our Benefactors program was created in December 2020 thanks to the generous participation of María and John Pfeffer who, from that moment on, become Main Benefactors of JIIFF. Benefactors is a space created for those who share our love and passion for cinema, but, above all, the purpose that drives us, year after year, to hold JIIFF as an outstanding and fundamental cultural event in the region.
The impact of the Benefactors at JIIFF transcends the week of screenings and meetings, since their contribution makes the work of our entire work team possible, throughout the year. The N15 edition of JIIFF finds the Benefactors group multiplying its footprint by integrating more allies linked to the José Ignacio community and with the desire to help us make an increasingly better and bigger festival.

What it means to be part of the Benefactor group

Benefactors is a space created for those who share our love and passion for cinema, but, above all, the purpose that drives us, year after year, to hold JIIFF as an outstanding and fundamental cultural event in the region.

The impact of the Benefactors at JIIFF transcends the week of screenings and meetings, since their contribution makes the work of our entire work team possible, throughout the year.

As sponsors of JIIFF, our Benefactors receive our public recognition and gratitude, in addition to living the experience and realization of JIIFF in a way and from a completely different place than the rest of the spectators.

main Benefactors

Pfeffer Family

For María and John Pfeffer, José Ignacio is their place in the world, where every summer they celebrate the best of global and local cinema at JIIFF. The creativity, reflection, debate and enthusiasm of this special meeting in a unique environment inspired them to support its growth. In December 2020 they created the Benefactors group, this high-impact space already consolidated in our festival. In 2023, they promoted the expansion of JIIFF by making possible for the first time the presence of our festival on board a ship at the Cannes festival, one of the most important film events in the world, also including the Uruguayan delegation present in Cannes to represent to our country. In May 2024, also thanks to the generosity of John and María, we inaugurated the annual agenda again in Cannes, this time on board the Alhambra, and there we announced the creation of the Pfeffer del Sur Fund, the most important private fund in Ibero-America for the development of fiction projects. With an endowment of $50,000, the brand new fund will be awarded to the winning project of JIIFF Lab, one of the industry activities organized under Working JIIFF. The winning project of the Southern Pfeffer Fund will be announced at the end of the N15 edition of JIIFF, in January 2025. With immense joy, we celebrate once again the alliance with María and John Pfeffer.

“The JIIFF is at the heart of the rich cultural life of our beloved town of José Ignacio and is a beautiful moment to share each year among family, friends and neighbors. Don't miss it!”

Benefactors

Kofler Family

An immediate sense of belonging towards José Ignacio. A love at first sight. They are the most accurate words to describe the choice of the Kofler family for this place in the world, who came from Austria to lay the foundations as a family and as a beacon of art, culture, design and architecture. From the opening of Posada Ayana to the inauguration of Ta Khut – the first “Skyspace” in South America by James Turell -, and the auditory experience created by Max Pattisier; Edda and Rob Kofler are more than excited to share their work with the town of José Ignacio and all its visitors.

“JIIFF is where the most unexpected is projected on a screen under the stars of Jose Ignacio and the subsequent talks expand horizons beyond the visible.”

Benefactors

Sandra and Ricardo Torres

Benefactors of JIIFF and sponsors of the Short Film Competition through Fundación Diciembre, Sandra and Ricardo Torres have been, for years, faithful spectators, allies and friends. From Argentina all year round, and from José Ignacio during the summer season, they accompany and promote actions that respect the values of freedom, solidarity, equality and respect for diversity.

“The opportunity to share beautiful moments with friendly neighbors and an incredible group of young people who love the festival and cinema… all this helping the young Uruguayan creative industry to show their work and grow. I hope we see the 50th festival..”

Benefactors

Armando Bo

Buenos Aires, London, Los Angeles and José Ignacio, the open secret in the south of the continent. During the summer, this fishing village is the familiar wasteland on the cosmopolitan agenda of Oscar-winning director, producer and screenwriter Armando Bo. Armando visited several editions of the José Ignacio International Film Festival and was also one of the first allies to promote ¡Corte!, our film laboratory for boys and girls, where every year we welcome their children.

“It is the best film festival in the world and the one where I feel most comfortable. Very good taste in the selection of films and very creative staging. Watching good cinema in incredible places with friends is unbeatable. Furthermore, I feel that from my side I can help it continue to grow and expand, always with a clear line of where it wants to go.”

Benefactors

Englebienne Family

First it was cinema, then José Ignacio until, finally, the two worlds of the Englebienne family met at JIIFF. Guibert Englebienne grew up surrounded by cinema: his parents had a video store and organized a short film festival in Mar del Plata. She always shared this hobby with Alejandra and her daughters Sofía and Claire, who today studies film. Living cinema and living José Ignacio is the activity shared as a family to which they now add their participation as Benefactors of JIIFF.

“At JIIFF you live José Ignacio and you live cinema, all together. It is an initiative that brings together the entire town with a particularity: we do not lock ourselves in a cinema, we experience it outdoors, facing the sea. "We really enjoyed this possibility of meeting friends and acquaintances in such a unique and relaxed environment.”

Benefactors

Daniela Coll

The east of Uruguay means so much to Daniela Coll that she not only decided to make it the place where she would spend 30 years of her life but also decided to plant her own seed in José Ignacio with La Esteña, the space in which she shares with locals. and visitors their view on design and decoration. A lover of cinema, from Buenos Aires but also a stable resident of the town, Daniela has dedicated herself for years to enjoying and learning about cinema from great teachers. The path traveled between Buenos Aires and José Ignacio, between cinema and the studio, today brings her closer to JIIFF as a Benefactor.

“The ability to support JIIFF where I am in the world is a privilege. A gift for me and my children, and the enormous joy of giving back to this town so much of what it gives us. I live it with immense gratitude.”

Benefactors

Klenik family

For many years, José Ignacio was the family vacation retreat of Tere Pinilla and Rodolfo Klenik. The possibility of living closer to nature convinced them to make it their permanent home, which they arrived at by adding spaces for Yoga, Music and Art. Today, they also feel the enthusiasm to participate in the growth of the artistic community that JIIFF promotes through the Benefactors group.

“In the festival, several generations of artists merge and strengthen, friends and neighbors of a town that grows in light of new challenges meet, and families also come together to enjoy a unique experience of art and nature during the exhibitions. The growth of JIIFF, sustained and supported by the quality and effort of its creators, is an example of how much a group of committed people can achieve behind a positive idea. That is why we are very grateful and proud to be able to join this talented group of neighbors to support JIIFF in its development.”

Benefactors

Aráoz family

3 years ago, Manuel and Agostina decided to change the speed of Buenos Aires for a new rhythm of life in José Ignacio, where they fell in love with the natural environment and were surprised by the warmth of the community.

JIIFF is nature, culture and sharing between neighbors. “It is a moment of reflection and encounter in the midst of the dizzying pace of the season.”

Benefactors

Artigas-Etchegaray Family

Originally from Argentina, Patricia and Lucas emigrated to Los Angeles, California, nearly thirty years ago. Since then, and especially after the birth of Clara and Bautista, the family has spent their vacations in Uruguay, and since 2006, in José Ignacio, where they have their retreat, shared with family and friends.

“Passionate about José Ignacio and art in all its forms, the family has faithfully attended almost every edition of JIIFF since its beginnings. For them, it represents an exceptional opportunity to gather friends and enjoy high-quality international cinema together in this paradisiacal corner."

Benefactors

Karina Román y Ricardo Mihura

Living in José Ignacio, Karina Román and Ricardo Mihura discovered a place where silence vibrates with nature. They learned to coexist with the uncertainty of the sea and the wind, and to become familiar with the fleeting cycle of life. They grew accustomed to simple yet special things. From their experience, they highlight the daily encounters with people who have clear gazes and long, deep conversations. They found that a unique frequency seems to be the soul and essence of José Ignacio. Karina and Ricardo chose this village as their home, the place where they can project themselves, with a touch of Buenos Aires and much of the sea, rocks, birds, moons, and sunsets.

“JIIFF, in addition to being a magnificent event to share with friends and neighbors, is a moment of inspiration that brings a part of the world to our beloved place and opens bigger doors for local talent"

Benefactors

Virginie Isbell and Carlos Abboud

Virginie Isbell was born and raised in Washington DC, and Carlos Abboud in Buenos Aires. Both moved to Paris in the mid-70s, where they met many years later. For the past twenty years, they have spent more than half of their time in Cerro Timbó, surrounded by a splendid landscape, not far from Laguna del Sauce. An artist and a businessman, they have always had a strong connection to art in general, and to cinema in particular; Paris, probably the city with the most art cinemas in the world. They live in the countryside, while José Ignacio waves at them from afar. That’s where they meet with friends. It is also the place where they became movie buffs again.

“JIIFF is a gem we are only now getting close to, discovering a first-class selection of films that reflects the best of independent cinema in the world. With a very good organization, super friendly, and in a luxurious setting. Let’s go! We are very happy to support this beautiful event from now on."

Join the Benefactors

Join the Benefactors