Playa del Carmen to Host Third International Film and Series Festival

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Playa del Carmen will host the third edition of the International Film and Series Festival of Quintana Roo from November 16 to 29, with municipal officials presenting the event as a way to broaden the resort’s tourism offer and tie the destination more closely to the audiovisual industry.

Speaking at a press conference to announce the program, Irving Mayett, director of Tourism Marketing and Promotion, said the festival follows the municipal administration’s push for a more rounded tourism model built on cross-cutting actions that support regional economic development. Mayett attended on behalf of local Tourism Secretary Fabiana Briseño.

He said film, television and digital productions draw visitors who want to see the locations where their favorite titles were shot, and that those visitors also spend on restaurants, cultural activities and entertainment. Federal programs and incentives now in place, he added, open new opportunities to position Playa del Carmen as a shooting location and to attract film-related investment.

Organizers Call for Reinvention in Tourism

Paulino Hemmer, the festival’s director and organizer, said the tourism sector needs to reinvent itself, and that incoming productions, shoots and investment can translate into local spending, job creation and greater national and international visibility for the destination.

This year’s program includes appearances by the film director Rafael Lara, free screenings at universities in Playa del Carmen and Cancún, and a 50 percent discount on event admission for students.

An Industry Forum will bring together institutions and representatives of the audiovisual sector to promote its growth in Quintana Roo. The festival closes with a Broadway-style musical show featuring singers, dancers and actors on stage. Events will be held at the Teatro de la Ciudad and the Hotel Fiesta Inn.

The press conference was also attended by Ernesto Martínez, director of the Municipal Institute of Culture and the Arts (IMCAP); Carlos Marín, president of the business confederation Coparmex; Offner Arjona, president of the Playa del Carmen Small Hotels Association; Valeria Rindertsma, president of AMEXME Riviera Maya; and members of the local film community.