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 N16 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 each summer they celebrate the best of global and local cinema through JIIFF. The creativity, reflection, debate, and enthusiasm of this very special gathering, set in a unique environment, inspired them to actively support its growth.

In December 2020, they created the Benefactors group, a high-impact initiative that is now fully consolidated within the festival. In 2023, they drove the international expansion of JIIFF by making possible, for the first time, the festival’s presence aboard a boat at the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most important cinematic events in the world, an experience that has now been sustained for three consecutive years and will take place again in May 2026.

In May 2025, once again thanks to the generosity of John and María, JIIFF’s annual agenda in Cannes was inaugurated aboard the Alhambra, where the Pfeffer del Sur Fund was announced for the second year. This fund is the most significant private fund in Ibero-America dedicated to the development of fiction projects. The winning project will be announced at the end of the 16th edition of JIIFF, in January 2026.

“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

The Kofler family arrived at this coastal village from Austria to lay the foundations as a family and as a beacon of art, culture, design, and architecture. They did so as if it were love at first sight, with an immediate sense of belonging to José Ignacio. From the opening of Posada Ayana to the inauguration of Ta Khut—James Turrell’s first “Skyspace” in South America—and the auditory experience created by Max Pattisier, Edda, and Rob 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

The enjoyment of cinema throughout the year and José Ignacio's preference as a vacation destination came together at JIIFF for the Englebienne family. Guibert Englebienne grew up surrounded by cinema—his parents owned a video rental store and organized a short film festival in Mar del Plata. This passion has always been shared with Alejandra and their daughters, Sofía and Claire, who is currently studying film. Immersing themselves in cinema and experiencing José Ignacio has become a cherished family activity. Now, they have added 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 us, it represents an exceptional opportunity to gather friends and enjoy high-quality international cinema together in this paradisiacal corner."

Benefactors

Karina Román and 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

Carrie and Alexander Vik

Their family first arrived in Uruguay 38 years ago and, over time, built a deep connection with the country and with José Ignacio, turning their visits into a family tradition that began in Punta del Este, continued in La Barra, and was solidified with their permanent move to José Ignacio in 2006. Drawn by nature, a sense of freedom, the warmth of its people, and the tranquility of the place, their children and grandchildren now consider José Ignacio a second home, and everything they have developed there is born from that genuine love for the town and for Uruguay.

“I fondly remember the beginnings of the José Ignacio International Film Festival, from that first open-air screening by the sea, which felt like a magical experience shared with the community, to its steady growth and promising future. The festival has become a space that brings the town together through screenings in different iconic locations, and for our family and the entire Vik José Ignacio team, it is an honor to support JIIFF as benefactors."

Benefactors

Madrid Solnicki Family

The family always felt that the common thread among people, regardless of their origin, was José Ignacio. As early as 2004, they sensed an air of freedom, quality, and good taste that the years only went on to confirm, through social and artistic events that gradually added to this hub of natural, rugged luxury. On a personal level, Paris was the source of inspiration; New York, the place of work; and Buenos Aires, the necessary passage to reach the reward of José Ignacio. And in the memories of childhood, the Atlantic scent remains, binding them all together.

“Cinema at JIIFF is experienced as a shared journey that brings generations together, creates collective memory, and transforms each screening into a moment of emotion and connection. Le cinéma, c’est 24 fois la vie par seconde!"

Benefactors

Ricagni Family

Their relationship with José Ignacio began in childhood, when the village was little more than wind, wet fishing nets, and time moved without hurry or Wi-Fi. Family arrivals on stormy days, the restless sea, and shared silences forged a deep bond with the place: a space where the soul returns to recharge its sense of meaning. As Orientals, José Ignacio is far more than a destination for them; it is a root, a threshold. A territory where the wild and the sacred meet, where the invisible reveals itself more clearly than the visible, a place that teaches them to walk with their feet on the ground and their gaze lifted toward the southern skies.

“We stand alongside a festival that knows how to listen to the pulse of the land and allow stories to breathe, find their own path, and travel from heart to heart. We support JIIFF because it honors what we honor as well: cinema as a shared human act; a way of seeing the world with responsibility, sensitivity, and awareness; creation born of a free spirit, and a collective soul that reveals itself through sharing in this remote and deeply essential corner of the South Atlantic. A festival that listens, observes, accompanies, and leaves a lasting trace, whose light continues to shine as an ancestral guide for those who come after."

Join the Benefactors

Join the Benefactors