The Puerto Rico Film Festival has announced Costa Rica as the official focus country for its upcoming 17th edition, which will be held August 19-23. The announcement marks the first time the festival has selected a country for the honor and comes ahead of this year’s Costa Rica Media Market, a major industry event that will be held in San José on July 14 and 15.
According to the festival, the selection reflects “the growing relationship between the two countries and the opening up of new opportunities for arts and industry collaboration.” A special spotlight will see a series of dedicated initiatives, including welcoming a delegation of Costa Rican filmmakers and showcasing contemporary Costa Rican cinema. Costa Rican Film Commissioner Maricela Zamora-Villalobos will also be attending the festival and participating in industry activities focused on international cooperation, production incentives, and regional partnerships.
A festival statement highlighted how the focus on Costa Rica as the festival’s host country underscores “the event’s long-term commitment to building stronger bridges between the Caribbean and Latin American film industries at a time when international co-production, shared financing opportunities and cross-border distribution are increasingly important for independent filmmakers.”
“This partnership provides an opportunity to deepen ties with Puerto Rico and introduce a new generation of Costa Rican storytellers to audiences and industry professionals,” the statement continued. “For Puerto Rico, it strengthens the island’s ambitions to be a strategic hub where Caribbean and Latin American films can collaborate, develop projects and build sustainable industry relationships.”
“For Puerto Rico, having Costa Rica as a featured country means more than just a cultural exchange. It creates new opportunities for our filmmakers to connect internationally, showcase their work, develop co-productions, and explore new business and distribution opportunities across Latin America. Building these relationships today will strengthen the future of the region’s film industry,” said Lester Ribe, founder and festival director of the Puerto Rico Film Festival.
In an interview with Variety, Zamora said the invitation to the festival “reflects Costa Rica’s growing recognition as an active player in the region’s audiovisual ecosystem.”
“This will give our filmmakers, producers and companies a new platform to build international partnerships and showcase the quality of work being produced at home,” she added. “This is a sign that Costa Rica is increasingly contributing to the regional conversation, not only through its location but also through its talent, stories and industry initiatives.”
Costa Rica’s audiovisual industry has grown exponentially over the past decade, with blockbuster films by directors such as Valentina Maurel, Antonella Sudasassi Furniss, Paz Fabrega, and Sofia Quiroz Ubeda making waves at major film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and Rotterdam.
Known for its stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity, this small but mighty Central American country is emerging as a voracious player on the international production scene. In 2021, the country introduced a law on attracting film investment and integrated VAT refunds and tax exemptions for foreign productions. The country currently offers up to 90% VAT rebates for local services for eligible projects. This equates to a tax refund of approximately 11.7% with a promise to pay it back within 90 days.
Last year, Costa Rica attracted $11.2 million in audiovisual investment through 87 international business opportunities, more than double the 41 the previous year. The country attracted projects from Warner Bros. Discovery, Universal and BBC Studios, and the Film Commission closely supported their production by minimizing bureaucracy and expediting the production of technical documentation.
Beyond its Costa Rican-aligned activities and robust screening program, the Puerto Rico Film Festival has become known as a growing industry platform that aims to connect Puerto Rico and the global film community, celebrating diverse voices and emerging talent from around the world. This year’s full program has not yet been announced.
