It\u2019s a waiting game in Central America and the Caribbean where some countries have introduced film funds but their respective governments have lagged in approving them.<\/p>\n
Others have reaped the benefits of their existing ones. Costa Rica, which has seen a dramatic uptick in production, seeks to bolster the Fauna Fund it introduced in 2015 with taxes on cinemas and streaming services that will further sustain the fund. The fiscal proposal is now pending an approval by Costa Rica\u2019s legislative assembly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough still young and modest, this fund has provided a dynamic impulse to the audiovisual sector,\u201d said Ana X\u00f3chitl Alarc\u00f3n, director general of the Costa Rica Film Institute, who notes that the fund has backed up to 40 audiovisual projects, encompassing features, docus, TV series and animation, since its launch.<\/p>\n
Jamaica has been waiting some two years for a film fund to be approved. Its trade and investment org Jampro is in \u201cthe final stages of a consultancy for the development and implementation of a National Film Fund,\u201d said Jampro Senior Film Sales & Promotions officer Tristan Alleyne who\u2019s hoping it will be ready by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThus far sensitization has taken place with key industry stakeholders who can impact and may be impacted by the fund such as government agencies, financial institutions and the association representing the Jamaican film industry,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Jamaican writer-director Storm Saulter is hoping that the international recognition of his coming-of-age film \u201cSprinter\u201d playing at IFF Panama\u2019s Central American and Caribbean section, will be a catalyst for change. Co-produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith\u2019s Overbrook Entertainment, it has won a clutch of awards since its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival last year where it scooped best feature, director and the Audience Award. \u201cIts Jamaican premiere was wild; Usain Bolt showed up,\u201d said Saulter. \u201cSprinter\u201d turns on a teen athlete racing to qualify for a track and field championship in order to reunite with his mother, an undocumented immigrant in the U.S.<\/p>\n
FilmRise is releasing the film in the U.S. on April 24 in tandem with theatrical on-demand service Gathr.com, which triggers more screenings if more people ask for it.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, four Costa Rican films dominate the 8th IFF Panama\u2019s Central America and Caribbean section, more evidence of the mini-production boom in the country. \u201cWhat\u2019s great is that there are more women filmmakers, I\u2019ve noticed,\u201d said Costa Rican director Hilda Hidalgo whose \u201cVioleta at Last\u201d screened at IFF Panama last year.<\/p>\n
The festival introduced its new Panamanian Perspective sidebar to give first-time local filmmakers a chance to showcase their films and experience a festival environment and its networking opportunities, said IFF Panama Director Pituka Ortega. Whether by design or coincidence, Ortega and her artistic director Diana Sanchez lead a mostly female team.<\/p>\n
Panama\u2019s $3 million film fund, which also took years of patient waiting amid some setbacks, launched eight years ago, just like the fest, noted Ortega. There is some trepidation, however, with the upcoming presidential elections next month, which could tip cultural support one way or the other. There were 12 Panamanian films released last year, eight of which screened at IFF Panama. This year, the festival has nine. \u201cWe\u2019ve observed more films by women filmmakers, too,\u201d said Ortega.<\/p>\n
Guatemala, despite its lack of state support, has produced some gems, and has at least two films screening at the festival\u2019s Central American & Caribbean sidebar. These include Jayro Bustamante\u2019s<\/p>\n
\u201cTremors\u201d (\u201cTemblores\u201d), a devastating look at an upper middle-class family who seek gay conversion therapy for their married son. Bustamante, who soundly launched his film career with his Berlinale Alfred Bauer prize-winning fable, \u201cIxcanul,\u201d laments the lack of any state support in his home country.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt present, there is a round table discussion about a film law in Guatemala but there is no approximate date and no substantive proposal yet,\u201d said Bustamante who added: \u201cNot having a film fund weakens our film industry.\u201d Like many of his peers, he sought financing via international producers. A Guatemala-France-Luxembourg co-production, \u201cTremors\u201d has already sold to multiple territories, including France, Belgium, Italy and Turkey, via its sales agency, Film Factory Ent.<\/p>\n
Honduras is a beacon of hope for its neighbors. This tiny country that shares borders with Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua has taken a giant step towards the advancement of its film industry by passing a film law early this year. The new film law calls for the creation of a governing body, a national film council, a film fund and tax incentives.<\/p>\n
Two women from Honduras were selected for the inaugural Panama-Locarno Industry Academy at the fest: Emerging film curator Laura Helena Bermudez and exhibitor-producer-docent Ana Isabel Martins Palacios. Along with their mostly female participants from Central America, selected by the Locarno Industry Academy, they will meet with international guests and mentors as part of Locarno\u2019s program for young professionals in the fields of international sales, distribution, marketing, exhibition, marketing and programming.<\/p>\n
The 8th IFF Panama kicked off on Thursday, April 4 with Ricardo Darin drama \u201cEl Amor Menos Pensado\u201d by Juan Vera and will close April 10 with Rudy Valdez\u2019s \u201cThe Sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Central America & Caribbean Titles<\/p>\n
\u201cAttachment,\u201d Patricia Velazquez (Costa Rica, Chile)<\/p>\n
\u201cEl Despertar de las Hormigas,\u201d Antonella Sudassi (Spain, Costa Rica)<\/p>\n
\u201cHelmet Heads,\u201d Ernesto Villalobos (Costa Rica, Chile)<\/p>\n
\u201cHere and Now,\u201d Paz Leon (Costa Rica, Chile)<\/p>\n
\u201cJose,\u201d Li Cheng (Queer Lion Award, 75th Venice Film Fest) (Guatemala)<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cMiriam Mente,\u201d Natalia Cabral, Oriol Estrada (Dominican Republic)<\/p>\n \u201cPanama Radio,\u201d Edgar Soberon Torchia (Panama) (docu)<\/p>\n \u201cSprinter,\u201d Storm Saulter (Jamaica)<\/p>\n \u201cTremors,\u201d Jayro Bustamante (Guatemala, France)<\/p>\n \u201cThe Extraordinary Journey of Celeste Garcia,\u201d Arturo Infante (Cuba, Germany)<\/p>\n \u201cTierra Adentro,\u201d Mauro Colombo (Panama)<\/p>\n \u201cUn Traductor,\u201d Rodrigo Barriuso, Sebastian Barriuso (Cuba, Canada)<\/p>\n Panamanian Perspective<\/p>\n \u201cAzuquita,\u201d A. Fernandez (Panama, Mexico)<\/p>\n \u201cCalypsonians\u201d Anghelo Taylor (Panama, Denmark)<\/p>\n \u201cHuaquero: Profano de las Sombras,\u201d Adrian Alexis Mora (Panama)<\/p>\n \u201cLos Nietos del Jazz,\u201d Lucho Araujo (Panama)<\/p>\n