Fantastic Lab Costa Rica: A New Venture in Genre Filmmaking
Pablo Guisa, the founder and CEO of Grupo Morbido and executive director of Cannes’ Fantastic Pavilion, has joined forces with the Costa Rica Media Market (CRMM) to introduce Fantastic Lab Costa Rica.
“This is a practical and training laboratory where six projects will be able to participate in professional internships and training with the collaboration and equipment of local production company Atómica Films,” stated Costa Rica Film Commissioner Marysela Zamora at the market gala.
Similar to its counterparts under the Sangre Latina banner led by Grupo Morbido, such as the Sanfic-Morbido Lab in Santiago de Chile, Blood Window in Ventana Sur (Argentina and Uruguay), and the Fantastic Pavilion in Cannes, the main objective of Fantastic Lab Costa Rica is to promote genre filmmaking in the region.
“Our mission is to open doors to new and different Latin American filmmakers in the genre,” said Guisa, who delivered a keynote address at the rebranded CRMM event, which commenced on June 24.
Starting next year, CRMM will host the lab, where a winner will be selected from the six curated projects chosen from an Open Call. Atómica Films, led by filmmaker Miguel Gómez (“El Sanatorio”), will produce a proof of concept of the winning project, which will be presented at Cannes’ Marché du Film in the next stage of its development trajectory.
“We will follow up with the other five projects in different capacities; this is where Morbido Lab and our other allies and companies come into play,” explained Guisa.
Additionally, a Morbido Cine fantasy film showcase will take place in Costa Rica starting this Autumn, featuring a training and refresher workshop, beginning with special effects makeup this year.
“These initiatives aim to nurture talent and community, build audiences, attract productions, develop the industry, and generate interest in the region within the fantasy film niche,” said Zamora, who spearheaded the rebranded media market.
“We are committed to these initiatives because we believe in the untapped potential of the Central American and Caribbean region,” Guisa emphasized.
In his keynote speech, Guisa presented statistics highlighting the advantages of genre films, particularly horror, in the global market. He emphasized the low production costs, high profit margins, worldwide appeal, and sustained global demand of genre films.
Furthermore, he pointed out that nearly 80% of genre films surveyed between 2000 and 2023 were based on original screenplays. “They don’t need to be part of a franchise to succeed,” he noted.
“Genre films transcend borders, create jobs, boost box office earnings, and attract horror fans worldwide regardless of their origin,” he told Variety.
Guisa also discussed what Latino filmmakers need to appeal internationally, emphasizing the importance of good production values and neutral Spanish. “Buyers will lose interest if they perceive the production as cheap,” he cautioned.
“Latin Americans, especially those from Central America and the Caribbean, have the potential to make a significant impact on global markets by exploring and embracing the horror genre,” he concluded.
The launch of Fantastic Lab Costa Rica signifies a new chapter in the development of genre filmmaking in the region, offering opportunities for aspiring filmmakers to showcase their talent and creativity on an international platform. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting venture in the world of genre cinema.
