After opening new offices in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina this year, Netflix is now turning its attention to Colombia.
Francisco Ramos, Netflix’s Vice President of Original Content for Latin America, attended the 65th Cartagena Film Festival (FICCI), where he introduced four major initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s audiovisual industry and gave a sneak peek at Season 2 of One Hundred Years of Solitude, Netflix’s most ambitious series in the region.
“For us, telling stories in Colombia is just the beginning. We want the experience of producing on a large scale to leave a positive impression on the creative industry, just as we did with “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” Today, our goal is to support the local ecosystem. to continue to foster this growth so that it becomes increasingly robust, competitive and sustainable,” Ramos said, noting that Netflix is celebrating its 15th anniversary in Latin America, producing three of its first five local-language original shows.
In an exclusive interview with Variety, he pointed out that while Colombia shows immense potential, it remains important for Netflix to provide not only financial support, but also the resources to carry out artistic and technical craftsmanship.
“Otherwise, there is a risk of a bubble, of mass production without quality, ambition or proper execution. The talent is there and the work we have done and the new initiatives we are launching highlight the need for more people to develop their skills. This allows for more diverse stories. In terms of technology, people have always had the knowledge but lacked the resources. Now we are giving them the tools and opportunities to fully develop their expertise.”
“I truly believe that it is important for talented people to feel like they can succeed in their home country. I would be concerned if talented Colombians feel like they have to go abroad to succeed in any field: production design, costumes, makeup, VFX, cinematography, production, etc. Especially in a culturally rich country like Colombia, people should have the option to build a career in their home country.”
The four new training initiatives are:
Opera Prima Lab movies and series:
Developed in partnership with FICCI, this guide focuses on mentoring budding filmmakers who are developing their first feature film or series. FICCI industry director Monica Moya said the program, alongside Netflix, “aims to provide expert guidance in storytelling, critical production tools and access to FICCI programs to continue building your ability to tell your own stories.”
“Extraordinary new filmmakers are emerging. When I say ‘small’ I mean their films are small and they don’t have a vision. Many of these films don’t get made without incentives, so we’re building the infrastructure to give these filmmakers access to the talent that will help them make their projects more extraordinary, unique and individual,” Ramos asserted.
“What’s interesting is that while some may think our efforts are selfish, many of these films may never even be on Netflix, and that’s perfectly fine. These filmmakers and screenwriters later work on shows with us, and I “We really feel that when a film gets produced because of the resources and support we provide, even if it’s technically a competitor, it’s a testament to the ecosystem that we’re building,” he added.
Lab Macondo 3:
In partnership with the Colombian Film Academy, led by actress and Colombian Film Academy president Cristina Umaña, this lab builds on previous editions that focused on literary adaptation and production design. Now in its third edition, it focuses on executive production as a bridge between creative vision and project sustainability, with 24 participants, most of whom come from all over Colombia.
“Just as Mexico’s outstanding designers are recognized worldwide, developing the skills of production designers is very beneficial here as well. For example, many art directors who worked on “One Hundred Years of Solitude” with Bárbara Henriques now join us and even our competitors as production designers, because they understand and are able to bring this level of vision to a project,” Ramos said.
Audiovisual Industry Provider Training Program: In partnership with local producer association ASOCINDE, 80 companies will participate in this initiative, said Diego F. Ramirez, president of the company. “Every link in the chain is essential for content to reach audiences across borders. That’s why this program is fostering the development of skills, services and logistics capabilities to further advance production.”
BAMMERS: Developed in collaboration with promotion organization Proimagenes Colombia as part of the Bogota Audiovisual Market (BAM), this initiative supports a new generation of Latin American producers by providing them with the tools and connections to develop projects with international appeal.
“Opportunity makes a difference, and these training programs pave the way. Initiatives like BAMMERS can provide access to international experts, enable the sharing of experience, and connect participants with producers currently active in the industry. This is a unique opportunity, one more often found in real life than at university, and this is the first step,” said Claudia Triana, executive director of Proimagenes.
This initiative builds on the momentum led by “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” which was a milestone for Colombian industry not only in its cultural significance but also in its economic impact. The work, which injected nearly $60 million into the national economy, was a gigantic work that included the construction of the mythical village of Macondo, which spans more than 5,812,506 square feet, and leveraged the talents and resources of thousands of locals.
The 65th Cartagena Film Festival will be held from April 14th to 19th.
