An evaluation of Casa Comal in Guatemala 2004-2007

Casa Comal was founded in 2000 by a group of people working within arts and communications who started the ICARO Film Festival three years earlier. Following the signing of the Peace Treaties in 1996, the group proposed to contribute to the construction of a new multicultural, democratic and peaceful society by using art and culture. Casa Comal has become a cultural centre providing a wide array of activities and entered into a new era with the production of their first feature film in 2002. Casa Comal has three donors, the Norwegian Embassy, the Dutch aid organisation HIVOS (Humanistic Institute for Development Cooperation) and the Norwegian Fredskorpset. The support from the Norwegian Embassy started in 2001. The first five years had a total budget of NOK 7 750 000. The current agreement (2006-2008, NOK 3 500 000) has a general objective of strengthening Casa Comal as a centre for artistic and audiovisual education, production and dissemination of high impact in Central America, which promotes a cultural identity respectful of the country's and region's cultural identity.

Interesting Findings
• Casa Comal has established itself as an important cultural institution in Guatemala which enjoys a high level of credibility and admiration.
• The generous support from Norway and HIVOS has given Casa Comal wide artistic freedom to develop genuine artistic expression in post-conflict Guatemala where progressive art has been able to express itself as part of the peace process and the desire to transform Guatemalan society.
• The production of three major feature films in five years is an achievement and has placed Casa Comal as an import exponent of the film industry at Central American level.
• Casa Comal needs to explore more opportunities within marketing and distribution, and not only in production.
• The ICARO Film Festival has become a manifestation of excellence and pride for Central American and particularly Guatemalan film makers as the only festival of its kind in the region. The festival provides an important projection of Central American audiovisual production.
• New standards have been set for a professional formation of future audiovisual talents with the establishment of the Film School in collaboration with San Carlos University. The efforts to form young talents through the audiovisual school is an expression of the desire to create a professional environment in this field on Central American level. There is, however, important work to be done in formalization and achieving academic status.
• The exchange through the Fredskorpset has contributed with higly professional support for Casa Comal, in production as well as formation. Guatemalan partners have had the opportunity to be part of a highly professional environment in Cuba and have extended contacts with professionals from many parts of Latin America. The exchange is a good example of south-south cooperation.
• Casa Comal has achieved much acclaim, and should be ready to look for its own sustainability as a film producing entity.
• Casa Comal is highly donor dependant. It would, however, be premature to cut drastically back on the financial support until a strategy for sustainable existence has been established. Financial support from the Guatemalan state - the Ministry of Culture and Sports - is very unlikely due to the low priority in general in the national budget and for performing arts in particular.

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