Erwin Neumaier, director of Churubusco Studios, and Alex Palma, director of Mestizo Lab
“We hadn’t considered ourselves mestizo until coming to Mexico,” said Alejandro Palma, general director of the Mestizo Lab co-production festival, on his first visit to the country. He emphasized the importance of forging this connection in the audiovisual industry between the two nations. “Spain and Mexico are the leaders in Spanish-language film and television production,” Palma continued. “While there are other important players, these two countries set the pace for the Spanish-speaking world. That’s why co-productions are so crucial.”
The event kicked off Monday, July 8th, and ran through Friday, July 12th, featuring a variety of activities at two locations: Churubusco Studios and the Cultural Center of Spain in Mexico. On Tuesday, the festivities began with a Film Commission-organized tour of locations in the Historic Center, followed by a meeting between the Mexican and Spanish Film Commissions.
Palma explained that the Mestizo Lab is more than just a co-production forum and meeting. Projects are not only evaluated and presented to producers and platforms but there are also dedicated training spaces. “We’ll be screening some of the productions developed at Mestizo Lab,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have a diverse group of experts attending, from the private sector to institutions, including representatives from CCEMX, Imcine, the Film Commissions of Mexico and Spain, Canacine, and more.”
Around 500 people have already registered and are actively participating. However, Alejandro Palma encourages anyone interested in taking advantage of the remaining events this week to register as well. The audience is a diverse mix, including industry professionals, film enthusiasts, and students.
“We have Spanish companies presenting projects and seeking partnerships. We’ve created dedicated spaces for them to connect with their counterparts, and hopefully, forge successful collaborations,” he said.
Spanish producer Amaya Muruzabal, a former resident of Mexico, emphasized the importance of collaboration. “Alliances between Mexico and Spain aren’t just possible, they’re essential,” she declared. “We’re at a crucial juncture, one that might require some effort. We still struggle to understand each other’s accents, but most importantly, we need to connect with each other’s stories truly. That’s the path forward.”
On Tuesday, attendees enjoyed a presentation by Daniela Fregoso, director of Business Affairs LatAm at Netflix, titled “Successful Production Agreements in a Flexible Industry.” On Wednesday, July 10th, the event featured a talk titled “Mechanisms to Promote Audiovisual Nearshoring,” with participation from the MPA and Amazon.
