Colombian filmmaker Harold Trompetero presented two of his films, “Locos” and “El Paseo,” in Beijing in an attempt to show “a different side of the Colombia,” in contrast with the standard image of violence and drugs.
“Both movies show a different side of Colombia, the intimacy and everyday life, the Colombians how they are, and this is why I bring these movies,” Trompetero explained.
The films are being shown via the Plan for Colombia’s Cultural Promotion in the Exterior, on behalf of the Colombian Embassy in China and the support of the Cervantes Institute in Beijing. Since 2005, the Colombian Film Series in Beijing has shown more than 30 films from Colombia.
El Paseo is about family life in the country, while Locos focuses on the love life “you can come to live in Colombia,” the filmmaker said.
He added that both of the movies were inspired by the reality that exists beyond the violence that Colombia is usually represented by, to show the Chinese the potential that Colombia has for more investment in film productions.
Trompetero expressed that the Chinese are “hungry and thirsty to see many foreign things” in reference to the possibility of allowing commercial entry of more foreign films into China.
He added that currently Colombian cinema is experiencing a more rapid development, thanks to greater support on behalf of the government, including a bill proposed by President Juan Manuel Santos on Friday that would grant tax incentives to international film producers.
“I would love it if other parts of the world would reproduce what the Colombian Embassy is doing in China to create incentives for cultural and artistic productions like cinema, music, and painting; artistic expressions through which improve our country’s [image] in the world, and at the same time, brings different cultural products to Colombia,” Trompetero concluded.