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Focused on projects, producers and pics from smaller territories in Latin America, Locarno’s 2023 Open Doors showcase suggested a revolution is working through Latin America filmmaking. This year’s titles explore other facets of this next generation makeover. Four takes on the 2024 line-up:

The Genre Revolution

Many younger Latin American filmmakers are embracing genre. But they’re not turning out standard shlockfests. Some are genre blending. At Open Doors Projects Lab, “Fiebre Caribe, for instance” is “a multi-genre travelog: a Latin-American vampire drama splashed with culture-shock comedic relief moments, a lost romance investigation, a body horror tale, and for a moment, an archive-historical reimagining,” says director Diego Andrés Murillo. Others are genre bending. “The project’s voice – a queer, gen-z, female auteur – has reimagined a somewhat familiar horror narrative with tropical heat and cool,” producer Rob Maylor, at Mental Telepathy Pictures, says of “The Periphery,” another Hub title.

The Rise...

As this year heralds the 30th anniversary of the much-loved film Forrest Gump, we can’t help but reminisce about the box of chocolates that is life, so eloquently depicted in this timeless cinematic gem. Showered with six Oscars, including the trifecta of Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director, Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 masterpiece threaded the tale of a sweet but simple-minded everyman, portrayed to perfection by Tom Hanks.

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump | Paramount Pictures

Yet, beneath the accolades and the movie’s warm blanket of nostalgia, there is a tale of a different tune. Winston Groom, the original author of the Forrest Gump novel, cast a less-than-enchanted eye on the adaptation that strayed from his unique vision, a vision that the film had, perhaps, dimmed.

But this is not all. The film earned some contrasting opinions, including those from Groom and other critics, like Taylor Sheridan.

Why Winston Groom...

Rotterdam Tiger Award winning filmmaker Paz Encina as well as up-and-coming directors from Latin America and the Caribbean are among those set to present projects at this year’s edition of the Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors programme.

The Open Doors initiative, Locarno’s co-production platform and talent development programme, is entering the final year of a three-year cycle focused on Latin America and the Caribbean. It takes places online in July and onsite from August 8-13 as part of the Locarno Film Festival.

Scroll down for full list of projects and participants

Open Doors will present eight projects...

She was a mom of two who’d gone from cocktail waitress to dancer to pay the bills. A cop’s daughter who’d always harbored dreams of fighting crime. And, for four and a half years, a confidential informant who helped the feds bring down a white supremacist behind a 2004 Scottsdale, Arizona, bombing that maimed a Black man — and who had plans to do much worse.

Now, in an exclusive interview with journalist Jeff Maysh on Substack, Rebecca Williams reveals her true identity and tells the wild story of...

In our third Cosplay: Diary, Alexandra Threw and Rebecca Williams take on the mantle of Iron Man’s Ironettes.

Alex and Becca discuss partying on Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed pirate ship, causing problems for security at San Diego Comic Con and the two share a few laughs about the Man of Steel (Henry Cavill). Alex also lets us know about the new modifications she’s made to the Ironettes costumes.

Editor’S Pick: Cosplay Diary Day 2: Harley & The Riddler vs The Walking Dead

Needless to say not all of Alex and Becca’s adventures were filled with laughs as they met with another major Walking Dead letdown – this time with Marvel Comics’ hero, Captain America.

Watch their epic Cosplay Adventures above and be sure to check out their other cosplay diaries on BuzzFocus.

Editor’S Pick: Cosplay Diary Day 1 – The Trek Adventure Begins

You can check out more...

How does it feel to get jabbed in your boob at Comic Con?

In our second Cosplay Diary, Costume Designer Alexandra Threw and cosplayer Rebecca Williams share more on their epic cosplaying adventures in San Diego.

On Day 2, Alex and Rebecca show off their love of Batman in their tag team outfits. Alex shines in her custom, Playboy-inspired Riddler outfit and Rebecca radiates in her evolving – and beloved – Harley Quinn costume. Much like Training Day, Comic Con is wild ride of “smiles and cries” for these two playful cosplayers. But it’s all for the love of the Con.

Editor’S Pick: Cosplay: Diary Day 1 – Purist Cosplayers and the Lure of Boobs

The two discuss the wondrous “super bra,” their trials with The Walking Dead signing, the perils of poster tubes at Comic Con, Ace Attorney and why straws and Cheetos are so darned important for women cosplayers.

Be sure...

Alexandra Threw and Rebecca Williams are two, purist cosplayers who travel the nation in search of awesome comic conventions, cool swag and the geek glory of showing off unique – or simply heartfelt – costume designs.

In 2012, we first met Alex and Rebecca when they were cosplaying as members of the San Romero Knights’ cheerleading squad from the Lollipop Chainsaw video game.

So this year, we decided to follow Alex and Rebecca throughout Comic Con to track their adventures and get a daily report on cosplay life at the Con.

In our first Cosplay Diary, Alex and Rebecca tell us about their love of Star Trek, the culture and business of creating custom costumes, fun times with USA Network’s Psych panel and their motivations for cosplaying. They also share a boob story about Playboy because “who doesn’t like boobs?!”

Be sure to check back for more cosplay diaries from Alex and Rebecca’s convention journey.

As Marvel’s Avengers took the stage at Comic Con to drop details on Avengers: Age of Ultron, Iron Man’s Iron Maidens took to the floor to show off their latest costume design.

Alexandra Threw and Rebecca Williams spent the morning putting the final touches on their Iron Maidens costumes. Each costume had lights on both hands as well as their chests and powered on with a gentle touch. SNL‘s Bobby Moynihan let us know how impressed he was at Alex’s custom designs.

Later in the afternoon, Alex and Rebecca took center stage at the Marvel Comics booth, where Alex and Rebecca showed the audience how to twerk. Rebecca, who leg presses 540 pounds, rocked the stage like a champ, twerking to the cheers of the crowd.

Be sure to check back for Alex and Rebecca’s upcoming video diary.

*This article has been updated...

Alexandra Threw and Rebecca Williams made their second cosplay transformation at Comic Con.

Rebecca cosplayed as her favorite cartoon star and Joker vixen from Batman the Animated Series, Harley Quinn.

Alex donned a modified Riddler outfit that would make any Playboy bunny jealous. It featured a cotton tail and Riddler hat with purple and green bunny ears.

More Cosplay: Alexandra Threw and Rebecca Willaims Trek-out

The playful friends show us how DC Comics villains get down:

Be sure to stay tuned for Alex and Rebecca’s upcoming video diary of their Comic Con festivities.

Throughout Comic Con, we’ll be following the adventures of Alexandra Threw (pictured right) and Rebecca Williams (pictured left), two cosplayers from Chicago who are long time friends and and comic book fans.

The two started their Comic Con with traditional Star Trek outfits. Throughout the week, check back to see Threw and Williams transform into a variety of comic book and geek-culture inspired icons. Threw has a few custom designs that will surely surprise. Williams has been perfecting her sewing techniques. I won’t give away any spoilers, but let’s just say their may be some Marvel “trickery” to look forward to later this week.

Also stay tuned for their video diary, where Threw and Williams discus all things awesome, odd and inspiring about their convention exploits.

Check out the cosplay team jumping into action. Does Williams know Kung-fu? Maybe… maybe… You’ll just have to wait for...