This colloquium was organized by the Global Media Arts Institute, in association with the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Television (EICTV) in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, and took place at FUNGLODE's headquarters in Santo Domingo. 

Featured speakers, Julio Garcia Espinosa, EICTV Director; Orlando Senna, Brazilian Screenwriter and Director; and María Lourdes Cortes of Cinergia, Costa Rica, ascertained that the development of a Latin American audiovisual industry needs to be a regional goal in order to maximize economic resources, and to be able to compete with international film production agencies at both a regional and international level. 

García Espinosa highlighted the role of the cinematographic industry in exposing the challenges experienced by Latin American nations during periods of economic crisis. 

He argued that it is the obligation of the film-industry in Latin America to both expose and challenges and realities inherent to the region. 

García Espinosa reaffirmed the need to develop a strong united audiovisual industry in Latin America. He stressed that while the generation of funds necessary to develop such an industry poses challenges for small nations, it is achievable at a regional level. 

He emphasized Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina's success in developing a cinematographic movement that impacted both Europe and the United States, during a time when subtitles and dubbing did not exist. 

Orlando Senna thanked President Fernandez for his deep concern for the industry. He asserted that nations can only achieve success in developing a strong audiovisual industry if support exists from the political leadership. 

He highlighted the advances made by Brazil's film industry thanks to the support of President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, and stressed that with the support of the Fernández Administration, and the audiovisual industry in the Dominican Republic could experience similar growth, positively impacting national development. 

Senna argued that cinematography is the strongest economic sector of the 21 st century. According to Senna, this regional initiative seeks not only to create works of cinematographic excellence, but to generate meaningful employment that will improve the quality of life in the region. He declared that regional unification is essential if Latin American companies are to compete with their US counterparts. He emphasized the need to promote national industries from within, and spoke of the Brazilian law that requires cinemas to show between 40-45 Brazilian films each year. He indicated that over the course of 4 years, the rate of film production had doubled. In 2002, less than 30 films were produced. In 2006, 65 films were produced. 

Senna indicated, however, that professionals within the industry understand that future success for Brazil in this sector is dependent on regional cooperation. 

Senna also acknowledged the potential cultural and consumer implications of a unified Latin American film industry. He stressed that with the development of a cinematographic industry, nations would be condemned to be the internal importers of audiovisual products, warning that from film, consumer habits are derived. He argued that Latin Americans need to fight to promote their own cultural achievements. 

María Lourdes Cortés, Director of Fondo de Fomento al Audiovisual de Centroamérica y Cuba (Cinergia), spoke of her organization's success in promoting regional cinematographic productions. 

Cinergia has supported projects in Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, and Cuba, and in 2007, plans to realize projects with production groups in the Dominican Republic. 

Cortés stressed the region's potential. She argued that in order for the film industry to flourish in Latin America, industry professionals need to learn to produce, solicit funds, and adequately present projects. 

She contended that Cinergia's participation in festivals worldwide indicates that the Latin American film industry is beginning to occupy a space in the global industry. 

Cortés stressed that the goal for the region is to promote and finance its own audiovisual productions, in order to endorse region's talent and to create a sustainable economic sector. 

Related links:
www.eictv.org/home.jsp
www.cinergia.org