"The Spanish have been able to capitalize on their geographic and linguistic location in respect to Latin America. . . . Language is an asset for them."
Regardless my Brazilian heritage, it has been a unique experience of learning, networking and developing a strategy for my professional career. The most interesting was to observe the other side of the equation -- How Latin American filmmakers & producers are dealing with new modes of film production, co- production and consumption and its inherent hegemonic dominance of Hollywood or if I can extend, to Europe in movie theaters. Also, interesting to learn how their governments have subsidized their film industries.
I felt doubled honored, first for being a true defendant of independent & Latin American Cinema and second for representing UCLA-TFT – one of the most reputable cinema schools in the US. I endorse here, the advantages of participating in a program like this both as a graduate student of film criticism and filmmaker. Our active participation in sessions and workshops, film screenings, bright ideas from experts have been of great contribution.
I have been questioning the power of a National Cinema for long time, if there is a precise definition for National Cinema. Whether or not, film provides a unique window to other cultures, It is irrefutable how films are richly embeded with information about people and places. It is indeed that a particular national cinema carries their own stories and their particular style of filmmaking.
