This  February , during one of the biggest film market and festival in the world the Berlin International Film Festival (also known as the Berlinale), key players from European and Latin American cinema industries and authorities came together to discuss about the challenges and opportunities for the audiovisual sector in Latin America and its connection with Europe.

The discussion was led by key professionals from different areas of the industry and organized organised by the Conference of Ibero-American Audiovisual and Cinematographic Authorities (CAACI) in collaboration with the EU-LAC Cinema. 

Daniela Alatorre, Head of the Mexican Cinema Institute, addressed the importance of public funding mechanisms in fostering independent cinema and the need for stronger cooperation with European institutions to enhance Latin American visibility in global markets.

Marysela Zamora, Head of the Costa Rica Film Commission, emphasised the development of Central America as a dynamic hub for film production, thanks to incentives for international co-productions, film-friendly policies, and how Costa Rica’s growing infrastructure is attracting both regional and European productions.

Producer Sandino Saravia brought the perspective of independent film production, sharing insights on the hurdles of financing and distributing Latin American films internationally. Given his experience, he touched on innovative funding strategies and the role of co-productions in expanding the reach of Latin American stories.

Elba McAllister, Head of Cineplex Cinema, provided a distribution and exhibition viewpoint, discussing the challenges Latin American films face in reaching global audiences. She shared strategies for ensuring the commercial viability of independent films and how streaming platforms are reshaping the landscape for Latin American cinema.

Jovita Maeder, Head of Bobine Films and the Paris Peruvian Film Festival, contributed with a festival perspective, addressing the crucial role that European festivals play in giving Latin American cinema visibility. She underscored the importance of cultural exchanges and the impact of festival circuits on the careers of Latin American filmmakers.

Moderator Michel Salazar, Head of the Ibero-American Audiovisual Observatory at CAACI, underscored how European and Latin American institutions can work together to enhance co-productions, training programmes, and market access for Latin American films in Europe and vice versa.

The event reaffirmed the essential role of European-Latin American partnerships in strengthening the global presence of Latin American cinema, emphasising the need for continued dialogue, structural support, and joint initiatives to foster a sustainable and diverse audiovisual landscape. Expanding EU-LAC audiovisual cooperation will reinforce this strategic vision and deeper bi-regional cultural and economic ties.

Dario Caruso, 2025

Background

This initiative is linked to the values and objectives of the initiative EU-LAC Cinema: promoting audio-visual cooperation on youth, gender and diversity. It is part of the EU-CELAC Bi-regional Roadmap 2023-2025, presented last year at the Summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Brussels. This roadmap is an important milestone ahead of the forthcoming EU-CELAC 2025 Summit in Colombia