ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the history of European film festivals that regularly screen Latin American films and the ways in which, historically, this has marked the beginning of a North–South relationship. In addition it discusses, Tier A festivals, which examines some of the festivals within Latin America that have established connections with major markets. Beginning in the late 1980s, the Global North festivals helped develop, fund, and exhibit Global South films through concurrent training labs and market activities during the festival. In terms of film festival models in the region that have influenced newer festivals, Gutierrez and Wagenberg state that: BAFICI itself has had a tremendous influence in inspiring the inception of new film festivals across the region. The chapter concludes by focusing on a relatively new phenomenon: the increasingly interlocking, transnational nature of film festivals both within and outside of Latin America that forge alliances, and in some cases merge the festivals.
