Colombia. Basque Films was one of the Spanish production companies and distributors that visited Colombia on an audiovisual mission, supported by the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Bogotá, ICEX Spain Export and Investment and the Cluster of Creative and Content Industries of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, in order to initiate or strengthen relations with the local industry.
William Medina, director of Basque Films, spoke to TVyVideo+Radio about the visit to Colombia and his interest in the Latin market.
TVyVideo+Radio: To begin with, tell us what Basque Films is and what its trajectory is.
William Medina: Basque Films is an audiovisual production company created in 2002 by Carlos Juárez, production director of the short film "7:35 am" (nominated for the Oscars in 2005), and a group of professionals with extensive experience in the sector. Its main vocation is aimed at the search and management of young talent, from which prestigious authors have emerged.
Located in Bilbao, it has collaborated with dozens of national and international production companies, obtaining more than a hundred awards in festivals of recognized world prestige, such as: Best international animated film at the FICMonterrey (Mexico) for "Pos eso", GRAN PRIX at the Moscow International Film Festival for the documentary "Letter to my mother", MÉLIÈS D' ARGENT at the Ravenna Nightmare Film Festival (Italy) for the short film "The Dead Hours" and the CRITICS AWARD at the Locarno International Film Festival (Switzerland) for the short film "The Work".
TVyVideo+Radio: What are the aspects that highlight your company's audiovisual productions?
William Medina: At Basque Films we are committed to quality and new talents, these are the differential and most common aspects of our productions. Likewise, we work with established directors, making possible synergies between experience and new talents.
TVyVideo+Radio: How was your experience in the recent visit to Colombia, was it the first time in the country?
William Medina: It was indeed our first time in the country. Bogotá has received us kindly and the experience has been satisfactory. In this type of activity, expectations are present on both sides. For our part, the main expectation is directed towards the receptivity of the company and our projects, as well as the opportunities that may arise from the different meetings with companies in the sector.
TVyVideo+Radio: What were your expectations with the trip to Colombia and were they met?
William Medina: As part of our initial actions, we have been meeting with Colombian producers and directors in international markets and festivals, with the idea of establishing a first contact and obtaining prior information before taking the next step. Finally we have already given it, now we have to work to maintain contacts and interest in developing new projects in co-production and / or distribute existing ones in your country.
Fortunately we were very satisfied, we have met with different companies in the value chain of the sector, such as producers, TV channels, distributors and public institutions, leaving us a very good impression of the quality of the work that is being done, the synergies and the efforts to continue positioning the Colombian film sector internationally.
TVyVideo+Radio: What is your interest in the Colombian and Latin markets?
William Medina: Our interest in the Colombian and Latin American market was raised in our strategic plan for some time. Fundamentally because Colombia offers us the most favorable conditions to invest and where our sector is well positioned and with growth opportunities.
The cultural and language proximity, the current tax incentives and the geographical situation with respect to Latin American countries and the United States, are some of the differential indicators that aroused our interest in the country and Latin America.
TVyVideo+Radio: Does your work have a presence in the Latin audiovisual market?
William Medina: During 2015 we had an important presence in festivals and markets in America with our first stop motion animated feature film entitled "Pos eso". In Latin America specifically, we have been in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Bolivia and right here in Colombia we had screenings of the film in the last edition of the Zinema Zombie festival.
These actions undoubtedly represent a gateway for the new projects we bring in 2016, a new animated film entitled "Psiconautas, los niños olvidados", a documentary co-produced with Denmark entitled "Pelota II" and a thriller directed by one of the promises of Spanish cinema, according to Variety magazine, entitled "El Ataúd de Cristal". We hope very soon to be able to incorporate films co-produced with Colombia into our catalog.
