The executive producer of Pan's Labyrinth, Elena Manrique, has been hired by the Miami International Film Festival to lead their Entertainment Industry Relations initiative and manage the REEL Education Seminar Series. She was line producer on The Orphanage and executive producer of El Rey de la Montaña (The King of the Mountain), which was a 2008 official selection to the MIFF.
In addition to producing, Manrique lends her expertise to film festivals and film promotion initiatives around the world. Her most recent experience includes: member of the Selection Committee of the Venice Days section at the 2010 Venice Film Festival; board member for La Fundación Caja, Madrid's short film project awards (2009-10); and the founder of an industry workshop in Valencia to create and promote cinema among public and private broadcasters in Mediterranean countries. She also has served as a juror for numerous film festivals, including MIFF, San Sebastian, Sitges and Montpellier.
Manrique will be working in partnership with Diana Sanchez, MIFF's Senior Program Consultant (Ibero-American Cinema) & Encuentros Director, on bringing top buyers and sales agents to meet with producers during the ninth edition of the Encuentros program, a three-day event which gives emerging producers from Florida, Spain, Portugal and Latin America the opportunity to come together with and present new projects to established U.S. and international industry professionals.