Netflix builds on success series ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’
After opening new offices in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina this year, Netflix is now turning its attention to Colombia.
Francisco Ramos, Netflix’s vice president of original content, Latin America, was at the 65th Cartagena Film Festival (FICCI) to present four key initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s audiovisual industry and to preview season 2 of ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’, the streamer’s most ambitious series in the region.
“For us, storytelling in Colombia is just the beginning. We want the experience of producing at scale – as we did with ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ – to leave a positive impression on the creative industry. Today, the goal is to continue to fuel this growth so that the local ecosystem becomes increasingly robust, competitive and sustainable,” said Ramos, noting that Netflix celebrated its 15th anniversary in Latin America, where it produced three of the first five original local language programs.
In an exclusive interview with Variety, He pointed out that while Colombia has shown enormous potential, it remains crucial that Netflix provides not only financial support, but also the means to execute artistic and technical craftsmanship.
“Otherwise there is a risk of a bubble: a lot of production without quality, ambition or good execution. The talent exists and with the initiatives we have undertaken – and the new ones we are launching – we are highlighting the need for more people to develop their craft. This will not only allow for more diverse stories, but also a deeper understanding of the complexity of Colombia: multiple major cities, diverse cultures, the Caribbean, the Pacific, central regions and borders with different countries. On the technical side, people have always had the knowledge, but they lacked resources. Now we provide the tools and opportunities to fully develop their expertise.”
“I truly believe it is critical that talented people feel like they can succeed in their own country. I would be concerned if talented Colombians felt that in order to succeed in any field – production design, costume, makeup, VFX, cinematography or production – they had to leave the country. People should have the opportunity, especially in such a culturally rich country like Colombia, to build their careers at home.”
The four new training initiatives are:
Opera Prima Lab Film & Series:
Developed in collaboration with FICCI, it will focus on mentoring emerging filmmakers developing their first feature film or series. In addition to Netflix, the program offers “specialized mentorship in storytelling, essential production tools and access to FICCI programming, aimed at continuing to build our capacity to tell our own stories,” said Mónica Moya, FICCI Industry Director.
“There are extraordinary new filmmakers coming up. When I say ‘small’ I mean their films are small in scale and not in vision. Many of these films would not have been made without incentives, so we are building the infrastructure to give these filmmakers access to people who can help make their projects extraordinary, unique and individual,” Ramos asserted.
“It’s interesting because some may think our efforts are self-serving, but many of these films may never end up on Netflix — and that’s fine. These filmmakers or writers could later work with us on a show or bring a project to us. I really feel that when a film gets made because of the resources and support we provide — even if we’re technically competitors — it validates the ecosystem we’re building,” he added.
Lab Macondo 3:
In collaboration with the Colombian Film Academy, led by Cristina Umaña, actress and president of the Colombian Film Academy, the Lab builds on previous editions focused on literary adaptation and production design. Now in its third edition, the program focuses on executive production as a bridge between creative vision and project sustainability, with most of the 24 participants coming from across the Colombian region.
“Developing the craft of production designers – similar to the way exceptional designers in Mexico are recognized worldwide – will be extremely helpful here. Many art directors who worked with Bárbara Enríquez on ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ are now joining us and even our competitors as production designers, because they now understand this level of vision and can apply it to a project,” Ramos noted.
Training program for audiovisual industry providers: 80 companies will participate in this initiative in collaboration with the local producers association ASOCINDE, which will focus on strengthening companies’ capabilities to develop and produce content, said President Diego F. Ramírez. “Each link in the chain is essential for reaching target groups across borders; that is why the program promotes the development of skills, services and logistics capabilities that enable us to take our productions further.”
BAMMERS: Developed together with promotional entity Proimágenes Colombia as part of the Bogotá Audiovisual Market (BAM), the initiative supports a new generation of Latin American producers by providing them with tools and connections to develop projects with international appeal.
“Opportunities make a difference, and these training programs pave the way for that. Initiatives like BAMMERS provide access to international experts, enable the sharing of experiences and connect participants with producers currently active in the industry. It is a unique opportunity – one that is often not found in universities, but in real life – and this is the first step,” says Claudia Triana, Executive Director of Proimágenes.
This initiative builds on the momentum led by ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’, which marked a milestone for Colombian industry not only for its cultural significance but also for its economic impact. Injecting nearly $60 million into the national economy, it was a massive production that built the mythical village of Macondo, covering over 5,812,506 square meters and tapping into thousands of local talent and resources.
The 65th Cartagena Film Festival takes place from April 14 to 19.
