At the Creative Europe – MEDIA Pavilion, the Cannes Film Festival played host to a lively discussion that underscored the growing relevance – and necessity – of audiovisual cooperation between Europe and Latin America. The event, entitled “EU-LAC Audiovisual Cooperation: Stories That Deserve More”, brought together some of the most influential voices from both sides of the Atlantic to reflect on the present and future of bi-regional co-productions.

The EULAC Cinema event made the case for enhanced collaboration, greater visibility and deeper mutual understanding between the two regions, through stories that resonate across cultures.

“Cinema is a window to the world – and Euro-Latino co-productions, in particular, create powerful bridges between our cultures,” affirmed Mariela Besuievsky, vice-president of the European Producers Club and one of the driving forces behind a number of successful transatlantic projects. “They allow audiences, no matter where they live or what they've experienced, to travel emotionally, and to laugh, reflect or cry together across borders. These stories bring us closer, fostering mutual understanding and shared identity.”

The event delved into both the strategic and the creative dimensions of cooperation: from aligning funding mechanisms and navigating policy frameworks to supporting talent mobility and distribution efforts beyond conventional markets. Among the key takeaways was the idea that public policy and private sector engagement must work in tandem to fully harness the potential of bi-regional co-productions.

Oscar-winning Mexican producer Nicolás Celis, known for championing bold, socially resonant cinema, was direct in his assessment: “Co-productions with Europe are vital for Latin American cinema to remain visible in an industry that is turning away from our region.”

This sentiment was echoed by Thierry de Clermont-Tonnerre, the French producer behind several international successes, who stressed, “Co-productions between Europe and Latin America are essential to enable works to travel, cross borders and reach diverse audiences.”

Beyond the practicalities of financing and policy, the panel also touched on the cultural and historical bonds that naturally tie Europe and Latin America. Luis Chaby Vaz, secretary general of CAACI, called for a bold rethinking of the cooperation framework itself. “A ‘reconfiguration’ of the framework is increasingly necessary; it must focus on new areas of action and be rethought from its core principles,” he stated. “Defining a cooperation policy involves identifying common elements among countries – based on history, language and aspects of culture – that allow for the construction of a shared identity.”

The debate, which also featured contributions from EU and Latin American policymakers, funding agencies and industry players, was followed by a networking lunch that encouraged spontaneous dialogue and fostered the forging of new connections among professionals.

As co-productions become not just an option, but a necessity, for independent filmmakers on both continents, events like the EULAC Cinema panel provide critical space for dialogue, alignment and shared vision. And if the resounding consensus at Cannes is any indication, the stories born of this cooperation have only just begun to reach the audiences they deserve.