Augusto Góngora
Augusto José Góngora Labbé (2 January 1952 – 19 May 2023) was a Chilean journalist, filmmaker and television presenter. After working in independent media during the military dictatorship in Chile, he went on to work for the country's national broadcaster, Televisión Nacional de Chile, from 1990 until 2010, primarily focusing on cultural programming. After leaving the channel, Góngora went on to serve on TVN's board of directors between 2016 and 2017.[1][2]
Augusto Góngora | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 2, 1952 |
| Died | May 19, 2023 (aged 71) |
| Resting place | Parque del Recuerdo |
| Nationality | Chilean |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist Filmmaker |
| Years active | 1976–2023 |
| Employer | TVN (1990–2010; 2016–2017) |
| Spouse | Paulina Urrutia (married 2016) |
| Children | 2 |
Career edit
After completing high school at the Liceo de Aplicación in Santiago, Góngora went on to study journalism at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.[3] During the military dictatorship under Augusto Pinochet, Góngora worked for independent media outlets that opposed the regime, including in 1976 serving as the editor of Solidaridad, a magazine published by the Vicariate of Solidarity, a human rights organisation that offered support to victims of the Pinochet regime and their families.[4] During this time, Góngora also hosted the alternative news programme Teleanálisis, which aimed circumvent the military dictatorship's strict censorship laws. Góngora worked as an editor for Teleanálisis between 1984 and 1986, before becoming its director from 1986 until 1989.[5]
On 11 March 1990, Chile started its transition back to a democracy, and Góngora subsequently joined the state broadcaster, Televisión Nacional de Chile. On 12 and 13 October 1990, Góngora hosted two charity concerts, Desde Chile... un abrazo a la esperanza, organised by Amnesty International to mark the end of the Pinochet regime and the transition to democracy, at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago.[6]
Góngora subsequently started hosting and producing cultural content for TVN, including hosting the cultural programme Cine video (later rebanded as Cine video + teatro) until 2002.[6] In 1993, he became TVN's cultural editor, a position he held until he left the channel in 2010.[7][8] He directed multiple programmes for the channel, including El mirador (1991–2004), which focused on social issues; and El show de los libros (1992–2002), which focused on Chilean literature.[9] Góngora also hosted programmes, including Coyote (2003) and Hora 25 (2006–2010), a cultural panel show.[6]
In 2007, Góngora served as an executive producer on the folklore-based miniseries La Recta Provincia, created by Raúl Ruiz, as well as Ruiz's follow-up series, Litoral (2008); he also had a small acting role in the former.[10] Góngora also hosted the radio programme Concert Enfoque on the radio station Radio Concierto.[11]
After leaving TVN in 2010, in August 2016 Góngora was nominated by Michelle Bachelet, the President of Chile, to serve as one of its directors. After being approved by the Senate, Góngora took up the role.[12] He resigned from the board in 2017, citing health reasons.[13]
In addition to his media work, Góngora also worked in academia, including at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the University of Chile, Andrés Bello National University, and Finis Terrae University.[6][7]
Personal life edit
Góngora's first marriage was to Patricia Neut, with whom he had two children, Javiera and Cristóbal.[14] In 1997, he began a romantic relationship with actress Paulina Urrutia. On 17 June 2016, Góngora and Urrutia married.[15]
Illness and death edit
Góngora was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014, when he was 62.[7] His health declined during the subsequent years, and in September 2020 his wife announced that he was showing symptoms of dementia.[16] Góngora was hospitalised for most of April 2022 due to his worsening health.[17]
On 17 May 2023, Góngora was reported to have entered into a state of sopor.[18] He died on 19 May, at the age of 71, with his death being announced later that day by the Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral.[19] Following a funeral procession that passed the headquarters of TVN in Providencia, Góngora was buried at the Parque del Recuerdo in Santiago.[20][21]
Legacy edit
In 2023, the documentary The Eternal Memory premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The film, directed by Maite Alberdi, followed Góngora and Urrutia's marriage following his diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease. The Eternal Memory received critical acclaim, and was dedicated to Góngora's memory.[15] The film received an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature nomination.[22]
References edit
- ^ [Augusto Góngora, prominent journalist and filmmaker, died at 71]. CNN Chile (in Spanish). 19 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Retamal, Pablo (19 May 2023). [Augusto Góngora, Chilean cultural icon, dies]. La Tercera (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Soto, Juan (23 May 2023). [Former high school classmate remembers a young Augusto Góngora: "I never saw him argue excessively"]. Página 7 (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Baltra Montaner, Lidia (2012). La prensa chilena en la encrucijada: entre la voz monocorde y la revolución digital [The Chilean press at the crossroads: between the monotone voice and the digital revolution]. Colección Ciencias humanas (in Spanish). Santiago: LOM Ediciones. ISBN 978-956-00-0354-6. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ [University of Chile paid tribute to Augusto Góngora 30 years after the victory of the NO]. University of Chile (in Spanish). 27 September 2018. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d ["Masculinity doesn't make me shiver"]. La Estrella de Arica (in Spanish). 7 May 2006. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ a b c [The map of Augusto Góngora's memories]. Economía y Negocios (in Spanish). 4 August 2018. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ [Augusto Góngora leaves the Production Executive of the cultural department of TVN]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ [The agony of New Image]. Observatorio Fucatel (in Spanish). 14 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ . Archivo de Fondos y Colecciones (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Valladares, Javier (6 August 2018). [Augusto Góngora spoke about his battle against Alzheimer's]. Radio Concierto (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Vargas, Felipe (2 August 2016). [President Bachelet proposes two former Piñera undersecretaries to join the TVN board]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ [Augusto Góngora resigns from the TVN board for health reasons]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). 12 April 2017. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Villegas, Jimena (4 February 2024). [Javiera Góngora after the Oscar nomination for “Infinite Memory”: “My dad is somewhere, in front of a mirror, rehearsing his speech”]. The Clinic (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ a b Valdivia, Gonzalo (20 January 2023). [Maite Alberdi arrives at Sundance with her moving portrait of Paulina Urrutia and Augusto Góngora]. La Tercera (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Vega Martínez, César (30 September 2020). [Augusto Góngora's Alzheimer's has worsened in quarantine: "He began to have symptoms of dementia"]. BioBioChile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Morales, Samuel (29 April 2022). ["Celebrating his discharge": Paulina Urrutia reported improvement in Augusto Góngora's health]. ADN Radio Chile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ [Paulina Urrutia, widow of Augusto Góngora: "He was already in a very advanced stage of Alzheimer's"]. 24 horas (in Spanish). 20 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Rojas Yeza, Sebastián (19 May 2023). [Augusto Góngora, renowned Chilean journalist, dies at 71]. Teletrece (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ [Augusto Góngora's funeral procession passed in front of TVN]. 24 horas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ [Augusto Góngora's funeral will be this Sunday at the Parque del Recuerdo]. University of Chile (in European Spanish). 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ White, Aude (2024-03-05). "A guide to the Oscar documentary nominees (and where to stream them)". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-03-05.