Women in Fan LatAm, a new initiative dedicated to championing women in fantastic cinema across Latin America, officially launches at the Costa Rica Media Market (CRMM), running over July 14–15.

The new program came about after the partners behind the inaugural edition of Fantastic Lab Central America & Caribbean – the Fantastic Pavilion at the MarchĂ© du Film, CRMM and Grupo MĂłrbido – noted how women-led projects consistently rose to the top. Across the selection, women were behind many of the strongest submissions and two of the final projects chosen were directed and produced by women, revealing a creative momentum the industry could no longer overlook.

“Latin American women filmmakers bring a perspective that exists nowhere else in the world — our cosmovision, our myths, our creatures, our Holy Virgins, our local curanderas, parteras and brujas, the syncretism between indigenous cultures and Catholicism, our colonial past, our present as developing nations. Women in Fan Latam exists to give those voices a home, a structure and an international platform. Our region, our stories, told by the women who live them,” said Pablo Guisa Koestinger, executive director, Fantastic Pavilion & CEO, Morbido Group.

Women in Fan Latam will be the Latin American extension of WomanInFan, the pioneering strategic program created by the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival.

“WomanInFan was born at Sitges with the conviction that fantastic cinema grows stronger through equality and a diversity of voices. Over the years, that commitment has expanded from talent development and the annual presentation of Latin American women-led projects at Cannes through Fantastic 7 to the publication of Horror Girls Latin America, which recovers the region’s female pioneers,” said MĂłnica GarcĂ­a MassaguĂ©, director general, Sitges Film Festival.

“Women in Fan Latam is the next natural step: building a permanent bridge between Latin American creators and the international genre industry. Together with our partners, we want to ensure that these voices are not only discovered, but supported, connected and empowered to shape the future of fantastic cinema.”

While the Fantastic Lab focuses on Central America and the Caribbean, Women in Fan Latam expands the scope, welcoming women creators from across Latin America and Hispanic communities throughout the Americas.

Marysela Zamora, Costa Rica Film Commissioner & Director, Costa Rica Media Market concurred: “The future of genre cinema depends on discovering voices that have historically had fewer opportunities to be heard. Bringing this initiative to Costa Rica reflects our commitment to building a regional industry where creators don’t have to leave Latin America to find opportunities, meaningful connections, and international recognition. When we champion women storytellers, we help build a richer, more original global film landscape.”