About Us

Mónica Trigo is a cultural manager, international consultant, and festival curator with over 20 years of experience in the strategic development of the audiovisual sector. She is co-founder of VDF Connection, a company focused on exhibition, training, and the international promotion of emerging talents in genre and arthouse cinema.

She served at the Brazilian Ministry of Culture during the administrations of Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff.

Mónica has coordinated projects at major international festivals and markets, connecting producers, distributors, and industry professionals with opportunities for co-production, financing, and global distribution.

She served as Director of Audiovisual Development and Promotion at Empresa Mineira de Comunicação (EMC), where she led the creation of public funding programs, developed audiovisual public policies, and launched a government-run streaming platform.

Mónica has played a key role in organizing and directing high-impact film festivals and audiovisual events, including the Paulínia Film Festival, where she also coordinated the Paulínia Film Commission, the local animation studio, and investment strategies for national productions. As Secretary of Culture in several municipalities, she implemented local cultural policies, created training programs, and developed financing mechanisms to support the film industry.

Internationally, she has worked as a curator and consultant for events such as the Marché du Film (Cannes), European Film Market (Berlin), Ventana Sur (Buenos Aires), and BAM (Bogotá). She has served as a jury member and project evaluator for initiatives such as Cine Ceará, Festival de Cinema de Vitória, Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre, Cinefantasy, Blood Window, Panama Horror Film Fest, Spcine, and the Ibermedia Program.

She also works as an executive and associate producer on various audiovisual projects, including Shit Happens and Miracles Too (Colombia, 2024), Gigantes do 8M (Brazil, 2020), and Rio de Topless (Brazil, 2019).

Currently, she is the Director of International Relations at FANTLATAM – Latin American Alliance of Fantastic Film Festivals and a member of the Brazilian Academy of Cinema and Audiovisual. She was part of the selection committee that nominated Still Here, by Walter Salles, the film that earned Brazil its first Oscar. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Brazilian Festivals Forum.

As a speaker and moderator, she has participated in international conferences and panels at events such as Blood Window (Argentina) and Sitges Film Festival (Spain), discussing topics such as international co-productions, public film financing, and strategies to promote Latin American cinema on the global stage.

Javier C. Fernández is an international film festival programmer and project advisor with extensive experience in the curation, development, and global promotion of genre cinema—particularly fantasy and horror. With a strong focus on industry platforms, he has contributed to the international positioning of Latin American films by connecting emerging filmmakers with sales agents, distributors, and festival programmers worldwide.

From 2013 to 2024, he served as Industry Coordinator of Blood Window at Ventana Sur, Latin America’s leading film market organized by the INCAA (Argentina’s National Film Institute) and the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival. He was also Artistic Director of the Blood Window Festival in Pinamar (2018–2019), dedicated to showcasing Latin American fantastic cinema.

Currently, Fernández is a member of the Selection Committee of the Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, one of the world’s most prestigious platforms for genre films. He also serves as a project advisor for development labs and markets including NAFF (BIFAN – South Korea), Sitges FANLAB (Spain), Fantasolab (Colombia), IFFAM (Macau), among others.

As a curator and jury member, he has participated in prominent festivals such as SANFIC (Chile) and Fantastic Fest (USA), and has been invited as a speaker at key international industry events like El Taller del Miedo (Panama).

Until 2024, he worked at the INCAA’s Agency for Audiovisual Industry Promotion, where he was involved in the design and implementation of international strategies for the global positioning of Argentine and Latin American cinema.

A graduate in Audiovisual Communication and Film Directing from the National University of La Plata (UNLP, Argentina), Fernández remains a driving force in the advancement of Latin American genre cinema, supporting its integration into global industry circuits and strengthening opportunities for co-production, financing, and distribution.Since 2013, he has served as the industry coordinator of Blood Window at Ventana Sur, Latin America's leading film market, organized by the INCAA and the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival. He has also been artistic director of the Blood Window Festival in Pinamar (2018–2019) .

Currently, he is a member of the Selection Committee of the Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, contributing to one of the most important platforms for genre films worldwide. He also serves as an advisor for development projects at markets such as NAFF (BIFAN – South Korea), Sitges FANLAB (Spain), Fantasolab (Colombia), IFFAM (Macau), and others.

As a curator and jury member, he has participated in festivals like SANFIC (Chile) and Fantastic Fest (USA), and has been a speaker at international industry events such as El Taller del Miedo (Panama). Until 2024, he was part of the INCAA’s Agency for Audiovisual Industry Promotion, where he worked on the international strategy for Argentine and Latin American cinema.

Graduated in Audiovisual Communication and Film Directing from the National University of La Plata (UNLP, Argentina), Javier continues to be a key figure in the growth of Latin American genre cinema, fostering its presence in global markets and supporting new talents through financing, co-production, and distribution opportunities.