Initiated through a collaboration between Costa Rica’s film commission, the Commerce and Investment Promotion Company (PROCOMER), and the Ministry of Culture and Youth, the first-ever Costa Rica Media Market (CRMM) is set to take place on June 24 and 25. This groundbreaking event aims to establish itself as a vital platform for regional projects seeking to penetrate the global market, enhancing the visibility and potential of Costa Rican cinema on an international scale.
As a result of its evolution from the Central America and Caribbean Audiovisual Market (MAUCC), which successfully hosted numerous business meetings across seven editions, the CRMM, under the leadership of film commissioner Marysela Zamora, is anticipated to facilitate over 500 business meetings and attract more than 50 international buyers. This represents a significant opportunity for Latin American filmmakers to connect with potential investors and collaborators, ultimately fostering growth within the region’s audiovisual sector.
“Last year, I decided to make a significant change. I communicated to my team, ‘We need to rethink our approach.’ Our efforts resulted in securing a larger budget, as I required more resources than initially anticipated. Thankfully, everything came together beautifully, and the event is now operational. This is the inaugural event of its kind for us, and my excitement is palpable. The team shares my enthusiasm, and I believe the rebranding and strategic direction we’ve chosen were the right decisions,” expressed Zamora with palpable excitement.
Marysela Zamora, Costa Rica Film Commissioner
The agenda for the Costa Rica Media Market is packed with exciting activities including business roundtables, matchmaking sessions, professional panels, and masterclasses. It will also feature project showcases presented by the commercial segment of the Costa Rica International Film Festival. In preparation for the market, the third edition of Tres Puertos Costa Rica—a development lab designed to support Latin American film projects—ran from June 18 to 23, engaging local and regional filmmakers.
Notable buyers and participants at this year’s event include Gaumont from Germany, ND Pictures from the Netherlands, La Bonne Epoque from France, Arnon Manor of Chemical Soup, and the U.S.-based Creative Chaos, led by Tom Donahue, known for his works such as “Mafia Spies” and “Thank You for Your Service.” This diverse array of industry players underscores the market’s potential to attract significant international investment and partnerships.
Mariana Salas Campbell, Senior VP of Warner Bros Discovery for original production in Latin America, will lead a workshop and masterclass online due to scheduling conflicts. “Since leaving Costa Rica 13 years ago, I have always envisioned returning to share what I have learned throughout my journey in the Latin American television industry,” she shared with Variety.
“This year, we opted to offer a workshop focused on reality shows for two key reasons: first, it’s a genre that one learns much more effectively through practical experience than in a classroom setting; and second, the reality TV industry remains relatively undeveloped here, presenting a significant opportunity to equip local audiovisual professionals with the tools necessary to create and produce this format,” she elaborated. The masterclass will encompass various styles of reality shows, their structural components, essential considerations when developing a format, how to build a compelling content deck, and tips for pitching innovative ideas.
With a notable presence of female directors and producers in Costa Rica, leading figures such as filmmaker Antonella Sudasassi</ (“Memories of a Burning Body”), producer Lynette Coll (“In the Summers”), co-founder-director of Luz Films, and Karina Avellán, co-founder-director of the prominent indie distributor Pacifica Gray, will participate in a panel centered on independent cinema during the first day of the event, highlighting the contributions of women in the film industry.
Additional panels scheduled for Day One will address navigating content markets, featuring insights from Fabricio Ferrara of Content Americas and Manuel de Souza from MIP Markets. Noteworthy discussions will also include a post-production panel led by Arnon Manor, a former senior VP of visual effects at Sony Pictures; an interview with Costa Rican actor Jose Palma, whose impressive credits include “Batman,” “Venom,” and “High Wire”; and a panel on global opportunities in sound design led by Erick Vargas Williams, president of the Costa Rican Association of Audiovisual Sound Designers.
Highlights of Day Two will feature a presentation by Hollywood publicist and Academy Awards PR specialist Alvar Carretero, focusing on using film awards as a marketing tool. Andy Van Veen, CEO of ND Pictures, and Johanna Chacón, head of international acquisitions at Gravitas, will discuss product placement and distribution strategies in the era of global cinema, while composer Arturo Cardelús will conduct a masterclass titled “Scoring Emotion: How to Compose a Score that Speaks for Your Film.”
The Costa Rica Media Market coincides with the Costa Rica International Film Festival, which is now celebrating its 13th year, having commenced on June 20 and running until the 29th. This synergy creates a comprehensive environment for networking and collaboration among filmmakers and industry professionals from around the world.
In addition to the market, location managers and producers with projects seeking Costa Rican locations will have the opportunity to participate in familiarization trips across six Film Friendly Zones in the country once the CRMM concludes. The current 11% cash rebate, while modest, serves as an attractive incentive considering the country’s stunning landscapes, as noted by Zamora.
From June 23 to 26, the Locarno Industry Academy Latin America is hosting closed-door sessions for its third Costa Rica Industry Academy with selected participants. Led by Avellán and Marcelo Quesada of Pacifica Gray, this training program offers participants the chance to explore the intricacies of the film industry and network with professionals engaged in the market and festival.
“Each year, we select 10 active projects from across Latin America, with a dedicated focus on Central America and the Caribbean. This four-day program provides an intensive and enriching schedule of masterclasses, roundtable discussions, group sessions, and hands-on workshops led by industry experts from the global film sector,” stated Quesada, highlighting notable figures such as Pablo Guisa, CEO of Morbido Group, who served as a keynote speaker at the market, as well as Paula Astorga, former director of Mexico’s Cineteca Nacional, and Fernando Vílchez, programmer at Seminci Valladolid and founder of FilmMadrid, among the participating industry leaders.
According to Guisa, who delivered his keynote address on the first day, “Costa Rica and the Caribbean are ideal for creating new corridors between North and South America. With its robust infrastructure and connections, Costa Rica serves as the perfect hub. Rather than merely constructing bridges, we should focus on creating pathways for collaboration and growth.”
“Significant progress has been made, yet there is still a long way to go. Fortunately, we have platforms like the Costa Rica Media Market—a fantastic venue for networking, discovering partners for your projects, and engaging in meaningful conversations. These types of events are incredibly valuable as they allow us to exchange ideas with fellow creators, explore solutions, and identify shared goals,” noted Salas Campbell. She further emphasized, “I believe we have a substantial journey ahead—especially in terms of creating more content by and for Central Americans. I have always believed that the industry should view Central America as a unified market. This would significantly help build audience numbers and open up opportunities to produce more content for the region as a whole. It’s a long and likely challenging road—but certainly not unattainable.”
