Introduction

This introduction gives insight into the complex, often paradoxical relationship between European film funds and Latin American cinemas. Prior research reveals how these films, despite international acclaim, were heavily reliant on European funding and favoured foreign exhibition over domestic, raising critical questions about potential colonial influences. Various scholars initially highlighted this “colonial impact”, noting funds’ expectations for “authentic” cultural representation and the irony of restricting national access to globally circulated works. This study emphasises filmmakers’ agency and purpose. It addresses a scholarly gap by employing qualitative, interview-based research to capture the “Lebenswelt” (lived experiences) of filmmakers, producers, and fund adjudicators. The book aims to explore how these actors “refuse”, “resist”, and “reframe” external expectations, uncovering artistic strategies that create cracks within historical and cultural narratives