Mexican Makeover: The New Film Industry in Mexico

From Hollywood Reporter: Pablo Jose Barroso, a businessman turned producer, is literally making history with the Mexican period piece Cristiada. The movie features Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Peter O'Toole, Ruben Blades and Catalina Sandino Moreno.

The Hollywood Reporter states: "The film will not only go down in history as one of the costliest pictures ever produced in Mexico, but also as the first homegrown project to tap into a newly created audiovisual fund for large-scale productions. Spearheaded by state-run trade and investment agency ProMexico and film-financing body Imcine, the so-called ProAv program enables filmmakers to receive tax rebates of 7.5 percent on audiovisual projects that exceed 70 million pesos (about $6 million). The incentive comes at a time when the Mexican film sector is enjoying one of its most productive eras in decades, churning out roughly 70 features a year, thanks in part to strong government support like ProAv."