The Ibero-American Film Commission Network, a non-profit organization that brings together film commissions and film offices across Ibero-America, took place in the Costa Rica Media Market for the first time this year as it reaffirms its strategic commitment to developing the audiovisual ecosystem in Central America and the Caribbean.
IBEROFIC founder and president Carolina Cordero was present at the burgeoning industry event, which took place in San José on July 14-15, and held a series of meetings with producers, institutional representatives and key players in the regional industry. Organized by Costa Rica’s Film Commission, its Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Promocomer), and tourism agency Essential Costa Rica, CRMM aims to bolster its position as a key platform for regional projects in the international market. The event is led by Costa Rica Film Commissioner Marysela Zamora.
Other participants at the Costa Rica Media Market included Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Business Development at Utopia Distribution, Charlie Sextro; Manager of Physical Production at The Walt Disney Studios Michael Woolston; Cimarrón Cine’s Executive Director, Sandino Saravia; and Ari Cheren, from MrBeast’s Beast Industries.
“One of the most exciting developments this year is the mix of industry perspectives coming together,” Zamora told Variety ahead of the event kickoff. “We’re welcoming Disney, MrBeast, a new generation of producers working in Hollywood and leading players from countries like Mexico and Colombia — two of the region’s strongest audiovisual industries. Bringing them into conversation with talent from Central America and the Caribbean creates a unique space for new ideas, partnerships and a more connected regional industry.”
During the market, Cordero met with Zamora, who is also a member of IBEROFIC’s board of directors, to develop initiatives aimed at promoting co-productions, attracting investment, creating specialized jobs, and strengthening regional capabilities through training programs, project advisory services, scholarships, and working groups.
Participation in the Costa Rica Media Market is part of IBEROFIC’s expansion strategy, which seeks to strengthen regional cooperation, drive new co-productions, and consolidate the development of film commissions.
Speaking about IBEROFIC’s commitment to fostering the industry in Central America and the Caribbean, Cordero said the region “possesses all the ingredients to become one of the most attractive territories for international audiovisual production: extraordinary location diversity, creative talent, increasingly professionalized industries and a clear willingness to work collaboratively.”
“At IBEROFIC, we believe that audiovisual development depends not only on incentives but also on cooperation between countries, the strengthening of film commissions, and the creation of a regional strategy that enables global competitiveness,” concluded Cordero.
With over 150 members across Ibero-America, IBEROFIC continues to establish itself as the leading regional facilitator connecting territories, producers, and institutions, thereby promoting a more integrated, competitive, and sustainable audiovisual industry.
Cordero’s visit to Costa Rica feeds into a wider picture in Latin America, as more countries inaugurate tax breaks and incentives. Mexico announced up to 30% of qualifying local production and post-production expenditures against income tax (ISR) on Feb. 15, joining countries such as Costa Rica itself in amping its financial efforts to attract international productions and bolster the local industry.
In this scenario, the region has seen a steep increase in co-productions, especially between Latin American countries.
At this year’s CRMM, several Costa Rican co-productions with Panama and Guatemala were unveiled, with producers voicing their desire to continue to collaborate within Central America as well as strengthening their relationship with southern neighbors such as Colombia, Brazil and Argentina.
This movement emphasizes the need for solidified, well-structured film commissions to support projects navigating novel partnerships a national, regional and local levels. With European countries equally ramping up their offers and burgeoning markets such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan attracting major shoots, Latin American film commissions and audiovisual bodies have been bonding tighter together to make the continental and cultural region more enticing to ever-elusive large-scale productions.
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