Panama takes centre stage at Latinamerican Focus and will present its tax incentives and its positioning as a production hub in Malaga

The Minister for Culture, María Eugenia Herrera, will receive the Biznaga de Plata from the Mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre

Panama will star in Latinoamerican Focus, the Festival de Málaga's initiative that invites a Latin American country to present its industry area, its talent, its audiovisual sector and the incentives it offers for production and co-productions with local companies within the framework of MAFIZ. The section strengthens Festival de Málaga's commitment to the promotion of Latin American filmmaking and to fostering collaboration between the guest country's audiovisual sector and that of Europe.

The Minister for Culture, María Eugenia Herrera, who will lead a delegation of forty professionals, will receive the Biznaga de Plata from the Mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre , on 12 March.

On 11 March, the presentation "Country Brand: tax incentives and Panama as a production hub"
Malaga will also become a showcase for the Panamanian audiovisual sector, with a presence in the different sections of MAFIZ. On 10 and 11 March, four feature films will be screened at the Rosaleda cinemas in exclusive sessions for the accredited industry as part of MAFIZ Specials; Málaga Short Corner; Málaga Short Corner will dedicate a session to Panamanian short films in collaboration with the Hayak Festival; three titles will be presented at Málaga WIP Iberoamérica; two projects at MAFF and two at Warmi Lab; and the young filmmaker Ana Laura Samaniego will participate in Málaga Talent.

Lastly, Festival de Málaga has included in its schedule the Focus Panama (Country of Honour) cycle, which will screen the feature films Espina, by Daniel Poler; Papeles, by Arturo Montenegro; and Querido trópico, by Ana Endara.

Latinamerican Focus is organised by Festival de Málaga with the collaboration of the Panamanian Ministry of Culture, DICINE, the Panamanian Film Commission, the Panamanian Embassy in Spain and the Hoja de Bijao Foundation, and the official sponsorship of Make & Mark.