Sundance, Toscano host lab in Oaxaca
Olmos, Carson, others to attend screenwriters event
Convening in the colonial heart of southern Mexico, Sundance is pacting once again with Mexico's Toscano Foundation for the event, which begins Monday and extends through Feb. 12, which doubles as a finale to a five-month screenwriters' course held by Toscano.
As well as actor Olmos, writer-producer Carson ("Paris, Texas") and writer-director Cholodenko ("High Art"), other advisors attending include scribes Zach Sklar ("JFK") and Laura Esquivel ("Like Water for Chocolate").
The 12 projects selected for the workshop include scripts by Mexican director Francisco Athie (who last helmed "Fiber Optic"), Chile's Andres Wood ("Football Stories") and leading Mexican thesp Lisa Owen.
A new component to the lab will be the nightly screening of pics by both advisors and participants, to take place at an arthouse recently opened by celebrated Oaxaca painter Francisco Toledo.
"It's more open this year: the public will be able to attend the screenings and the final night's speeches and party," Sundance international director Patricia Boero said.
The toppers of Mexico's most active production entities, Eduardo Amarena of film institute Imcine and Diego Lopez of Televisa subsid Televicine, will also be present.
