Wolfe Video Brings Sebastián Lelio’s ‘The Wave’ to North American Audiences
Wolfe Video Acquires North American Rights to Sebastián Lelio’s The Wave
Wolfe Video has secured North American distribution rights for The Wave (La Ola), the musical film directed by Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio. The film draws inspiration from the wave of feminist civil disobedience that emerged in Chile during the spring of 2018.
This marks Lelio’s return to filmmaking in his home country since his 2017 Oscar-winning film, A Fantastic Woman. In the interim, he has directed Gloria Bell and The Wonder, among other projects. The Wave is set for a theatrical release in North America in 2026.
The film revolves around Daniela López, who makes her big-screen debut as a devoted music student entangled in the feminist uprising at her university. Through her involvement in protest marches, she channels her experiences of harassment into a powerful testimony that ignites dialogue within her divided society.
Co-starring are Lola Bravo, Avril Aurora, and Paulina Cortés. The musical score is composed by Matthew Herbert, known for his work on Disobedience, while Emmy winner Ryan Heffington, recognized for Euphoria, is responsible for the choreography.
Notably, the film features original musical compositions by 17 female Chilean musicians, including Ana Tijoux, Camila Moreno, and Javiera Parra. Lelio co-wrote the screenplay alongside Manuela Infante, Josefina Fernández, and Paloma Salas.
Produced by Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Sebastián Lelio, and Rocío Jadue for Fabula Productions, the film also benefits from the executive producing efforts of Christian Vesper, Seb Shorr, Robert Kessel, David Linde, and Mariane Hartard. It was co-financed by Participant and Fremantle.
"I’m deeply grateful to Wolfe Video for their enthusiasm and energy towards The Wave," Lelio expressed. "The film’s premiere in the United States brings us immense joy and presents a tremendous opportunity for its spirit—melding passionate political commentary with the exuberance of musical cinema—to resonate in a country with a rich tradition in this genre."
He added, "We are living in a time of intense polarization worldwide, and The Wave invites us to open our minds to the possibility that humor, song, dancing, and overflowing emotion can help us better comprehend the dilemmas we face today through a celebration of complex issues."
Rocío Jadue from Fabula remarked that The Wave portrays how new paradigms and rights have evolved from Latin American universities into wider society. "It is a visually and emotionally engaging journey that invites reflection in the audience," she noted.
The acquisition was negotiated by Evan Schwartz, Wolfe Video’s Head of Content, in collaboration with FilmNation Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers. Schwartz stated, "Wolfe Video is officially reborn with our acquisition of The Wave. I am beyond excited to partner with the titans of industry at Fabula, Fremantle, and FilmNation in this transformative moment for Wolfe Video’s legacy. I can’t wait for audiences to experience Sebastián’s cinematic musical statement next year."
The Wave had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Cannes Premiere section and was subsequently featured at the NVISION Latino Film & Music Festival in Miami, where Lelio received the NVISIONARY Award and the film won the award for Best International Feature.
