Changers and reshapers

LUCAS AKOSKINProducer-thesp, ArgentinaLos Angeles-based Lucas Akoskin, 32, remains referred to as King of Shorts, a tag he doesn't like, since 2008 when he developed the innovative "Terra Shorts," an amount of independent tales woven together with the Latin American experience. His latest package, "The Heartbeat around the world,In . along with Guillermo Arriaga and Alex Garcia, comprises four features (each composed of 10 shorts) on religion, sex, politics and substance abuse. Emir Kusturica and Jose Padilha may also be aboard. BENJAMIN AVILAHelmer-scribe, ArgentinaAvila takes a fresh have a look at Argentina's Dirty War (1976 to 1983) within the fiction debut "Clandestine Childhood," of a 12-year-old boy dealing with resistance mma fighters, based on his recollections of maturing. "There's plenty of happiness and love not just fear and stress," according to him. "I desired to capture an individuals affiliate with no dramatic or political tone," the identical approach he useful for "Nietos (identidad y memorial)," a Dirty War children documentary. The approach fetched "Childhood" a Films happening kudos at San Sebastian.BRUNO BETTATIProducer/film professional, ChileBettati has worn several hats throughout his film career but, from next season, he'd prefer to give consideration to making two to three photos yearly, including documentaries. He's handled to produce several photos despite myriad responsibilities. Bettati, 38, is director in the Valdivia Film Festival and prexy of Chile's Film and TV Producers Assn., APCT. His latest production, Cristian Jimenez's drama "Bonsai" impressed in Cannes' Not Sure Regard. Up next is dark comedy "El verano p los peces voladores." VINICIUS COIMBRAHelmer, BrazilAfter 12 years just like a leading TV Globo telenovela helmer, Coimbra's first foray into filmmaking remains an instantaneous hit. "Matraga," with various short story by Brazilian author Guimaraes Rosa, taken the present Rio p Janeiro Film Festival, Latin America's greatest event, nabbing five kudos like the jury and audience honours. "Transpire wound up being to permit Rosa's story to offer the public through film," according to him. Coimbra is developing a version of "Macbeth," occur present-day Sao Paulo.JULIAN GIRALDOProducer/RCN Cine g.m., ColombiaGiraldo spurned regulations profession 10 years ago to pursue his lifetime ambition to produce films. Since beginning RCN Cine in 2004, Giraldo, 40, has professional produced greater than 20 photos, docus and shorts. In 2008 he co-founded production company Shoot Colombia with helmer-scribe Felipe Aljure. Seeking an international interface for Colombian photos has introduced him to develop such projects as Screen Gems' "Operation Checkmate" with Greg Shapiro ("The Hurt Locker") co-creating, and Simon Brand's found-footage British-lingo drama "Default."JUAN P DIOS LARRAINProducer, Chile"Tennis pros play different surfaces, so should producers," states Fabula founder Larrain. And therefore he's this year, creating Cinemax Latin America's "Profugos," Fabula's first TV drama co-creating "4:44 Last Day in the world,Inch from Abel Ferrara, Fabula's first foreign film director, and moving November. 7 on Gael Garcia Bernal starrer "No," a transfer to wider-audience filmmaking by brother Pablo Larrain. Helmer Sebastian Sepulveda's "The Quispe Women" won Guadalajara's Co-Production Market, "Youthful and Wild," will be a San Sebastian standout. Larrain is certainly an progressively versatile pressure in Latin American fiction.PAULA MARKOVITCHHelmer-scribe, MexicoHer first outing just like a helmer, "The Prize," shown very properly named, topping the Guadalajara and Morelia fests and taking two artistic Berlin Silver Bears. Possibly Mexico's best film this year, the debut features a youthful girl and her mother staying away from Argentina's dictatorship in the gloomy seaside shanty. Clearly adept in drawing from her past, Markovitch is seeking funding on her behalf second feature inspired by her father -- an obvious artist and teacher.MATIAS MEYERHelmer-scribe, MexicoAn alumnus in the Sorbonne and Mexico's CCC film school (as was Markovitch), Meyer is clearly an art for art's sake type of filmmaker. "I am kind of an electronic digital rebel, The year progresses progressively, I film within the speed around the world,In . according to him. "Inside the theater, I'd like there to become moment of reflexion of internal spirituality." In "The Ultimate Cristeros," Meyer transforms the wandering style found in previous works in to a narrative advantage that bears following. MARCOS PRADOProducer-director, South usa"Artificial Paradise," an appreciation story occur the milieu of rave and synthetic drugs, might be the fiction feature debut of Prado, who helmed "Estamira," a multi-valued social commentary docu. Prado's breakthrough came just like a creating partner at Zazen, which produced Jose Padilha's Berlin Golden Bear champion "Elite Squad," which is follow-up, "Elite Squad: The Enemy Within," Brazil's top local B.O earner. In October Prado, Padilha together with other leading Brazilian helmers and producers founded indie distrib Nossa that may make "Paradise" its first Brazilian release early next season. DIEGO VELASCOHelmer-scribe, VenezuelaBorn inside the U.S. but elevated in Venezuela, Velasco came inspiration within the harsh details of existence because country to produce his feature debut. Co-composed with wife Carolina Paiz, hitman drama "Zero Hour" is positioned through the 1996 Caracas medical strike which is the finest-grossing local pic ever. Velasco, 38, honed his craft on numerous award-winning shorts and ads additionally to TV. He's developing horror pic, "The Whistler," with various Venezuelan legend.SPOTLIGHT: VENTANA SUR Ventana Sur's sales surge Bazaar buzz Changers and reshapers Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com