AGP Executive Report

Cannes spotlight for Costa Rican cinema: Director Valentina Maurel’s new feature Forever Your Maternal Animal (Siempre soy tu animal materno) has landed in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, adding another rare official Cannes door for Costa Rica and putting the film’s family tensions—set around a sister’s return to Costa Rica—front and center. Tourism accessibility test: Barceló issued a public apology after an Occidental Papagayo hotel allegedly refused entry to a certified guide dog, turning a birthday trip into a national debate over how tourism handles disability access. Digital shift in the spotlight: A University of Costa Rica study says TikTok is now Costa Rica’s second most used social network (58% of adults with cellphones), overtaking Instagram (47%)—a clear signal for how arts, culture, and events should market. Arts & culture beyond borders: Kazakhstan singer Dimash Qudaibergen is set to perform at Istanbul’s 8th Ethnosport Culture Festival, with festival events running May 21–24. Education wins: Six Santa Clara students and alumni earned Fulbright grants for 2026–2027, with placements across Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Zambia.

Tourism Accessibility Clash: Barceló issued a public apology after a Guanacaste hotel refused a couple’s certified guide dog, sparking a national debate on disability access in Costa Rica’s hospitality industry. Digital Shift: A UCR CICOM study says TikTok is now Costa Rica’s second most used social network (58% of adults with mobile phones), overtaking Instagram (47%)—a clear signal for how local businesses should market. Migration Watch: Costa Rica received a fourth U.S. deportation flight under the March migration deal, bringing 12 foreign nationals to Juan Santamaría, with 95 total since April 11. Arts & Film: Cannes is spotlighting Costa Rican cinema again: Valentina Maurel’s Forever Your Maternal Animal lands in Un Certain Regard, reinforcing the country’s growing film-production momentum. Sports Buzz: Pumas edged Pachuca 1-0 to reach the Liga MX final, with Keylor Navas turning late pressure away.

Accessibility Backlash in Guanacaste: Barceló’s Occidental Papagayo apologized after a couple with visual disabilities said staff refused their certified guide dog, forcing one partner to skip a planned birthday trip—now the company says it will retrain staff and tighten protocols. Migration Deal in Motion: Costa Rica received its fourth U.S. deportation flight under the March migration agreement, bringing 12 adults (from Bolivia, Chile, China, France, and Madagascar) for screening and possible Assisted Voluntary Return. Bolivia Unrest Escalates: Security forces in La Paz detained 57 during clashes tied to fuel shortages and inflation, after road blockades cut hospital access; regional governments including Costa Rica urged restraint. Costa Rican Film Momentum: Cannes Un Certain Regard selection spotlights Valentina Maurel’s “Forever Your Maternal Animal,” another sign Costa Rica’s film push is gaining global traction. Sports & Culture Noise: Pumas fell 1-0 to Pachuca in Liga MX, while FIFA sealed a China broadcast rights deal for the 2026 World Cup at a reported $60M.

Migration Pact Fallout: A new U.S. migration agreement signed with the Dominican Republic is sparking unrest and uncertainty across the region, with worries in Panama, Costa Rica, and Ecuador about sovereignty and human-rights safeguards. Bolivia Protests: In Bolivia, 57 demonstrators were detained during clashes tied to economic hardship, as roadblocks blocked access to hospitals and security forces used tear gas. Costa Rican Film on Cannes Stage: Costa Rica’s arthouse momentum gets a boost: Valentina Maurel’s “Forever Your Maternal Animal” lands in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, adding to the country’s growing international production profile. World Cup Media Deal: FIFA sealed a China broadcast-rights deal for 2026 at a reported $60M, far below its earlier ask—another sign of how global attention is being priced and packaged. Arts & Culture Calendar: Costa Rica also keeps moving culturally, from film news to a major June 7 rodeo at La Sabana that brings cowboy traditions into the spotlight.

Costa Rican Film on Cannes Radar: Valentina Maurel’s “Forever Your Maternal Animal” is back at Cannes (Un Certain Regard), with the director framing it as a character-first story about a young woman returning to San José and the messy pull of family ties. World Cup Business: FIFA finally agreed a China broadcast rights deal with China Media Group for about $60M—far below the $300M it originally sought—covering men’s and women’s tournaments through 2031. Regional Football Pathways: Curacao’s World Cup qualification story spotlights how a dual-national recruitment shift under Patrick Kluivert helped the island nation break through. Local Culture & Community: San José’s National Stadium hosts the Extreme American Rodeo 2026 on June 7, aiming to bring cowboy culture to a wider audience. Arts Watch Note: Most of this week’s Costa Rica arts coverage centers on Cannes and film; other arts items were lighter than usual.

Email Industry Buzz: Costa Rican entrepreneur Anthony Baltodano’s Mission Inbox says it’s hit a $25M valuation, riding a surge in demand for better email deliverability and claiming rapid, profitable growth. World Cup Watch: FIFA finally locked a China broadcast deal with China Media Group for about $60M—far below the $300M it originally sought—covering multiple men’s and women’s tournaments through 2031. Football Draws: China was placed in Group F for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup alongside Spain, Nigeria, and New Caledonia, while Costa Rica landed in Group E with DPR Korea, Colombia, and Portugal. Costa Rican Arts & Film: Costa Rica’s push abroad keeps paying off: Sofía Quirós Úbeda’s “Forever Your Maternal Animal” is selected for Cannes (Un Certain Regard), and “Silent Birds” has secured international sales rights via Luminalia. Local Culture: A new permaculture pinup retreat series launches in Santa Teresa, mixing regenerative learning, medicinal plants, and creative nature experiences.

U-20 Women’s World Cup Draw: China will face Spain, Nigeria and New Caledonia in Group F after FIFA’s draw in Lodz, with Costa Rica placed in Group E alongside DPR Korea, Colombia and Portugal. Costa Rica Film Momentum: Luminalia picked up international sales rights for Sofía Quirós Úbeda’s “Silent Birds,” while Valentina Maurel’s “Forever Your Maternal Animal” just landed in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard—another sign Costa Rica is climbing fast on the festival circuit. Local Arts & Learning: Permaculture Pinup launched new small-group retreat experiences in Santa Teresa, mixing food forest immersion, medicinal plant learning and creative nature photography. Airport Security: Juan Santamaría International Airport briefly restricted access after an Interpol-linked suspicious vehicle alert, but departures and arrivals were restored by evening. Sports Culture: Reggae Girlz confirmed friendlies vs Panama (June 5 and 8) as they gear up for the 2027 World Cup push.

Film & Distribution: Italian sales outfit Luminalia has picked up international sales rights to Sofía Quirós Úbeda’s Costa Rican-Argentinian sophomore feature Silent Birds, produced by Sputnik Films (Costa Rica) and Murillo Cine (Argentina), with the story centered on eight-year-old Oliver coping with grief while his mother battles serious illness. International Justice: Thirty-six countries have signed on to a special tribunal aimed at prosecuting Vladimir Putin for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, with the Hague set as the hub. Costa Rica Arts & Culture: A new immersive musical, Frida: Painting Hope, is set to debut in Costa Rica with digital animation that lets audiences “step inside” Frida Kahlo’s paintings. Local Spotlight: Liberty says it has reached 40% of Costa Rica’s mobile market and 26% of subscription TV, signaling continued momentum in the country’s media and connectivity scene. Security: Juan Santamaría Airport briefly restricted access after an Interpol-linked alert about a suspicious vehicle, but operations later resumed normally.

Airport Security Jolt: Juan Santamaría International Airport briefly restricted access after an Interpol-linked alert about a suspicious vehicle in the parking area, with police and specialized units inspecting the site and a controlled detonation reported; by evening, departures/arrivals were back to normal. Immersive Arts: San José is getting a tech-forward Frida Kahlo musical—Frida: Painting Hope—where audiences can “step inside” her paintings with high-definition visuals, set for May 16 at Teatro Auditorio Nacional. Hospitality & Wellness: JW Marriott is taking reservations for its first all-inclusive under the brand in Guanacaste—JW Marriott Costa Elena—reimagining a former property with a huge poolscape and spa; meanwhile, Preferred Hotels & Resorts launched Preferred Wellbeing, spotlighting 50+ hotels pushing holistic, multi-day renewal. Local Culture: Costa Rica’s arts scene also keeps moving—KV2 Audio expands Central America via Cubism Production, and the Strokes’ new album Reality Awaits was recorded in Costa Rica with Rick Rubin.

Immersive Frida in San José: Florianne Valadez’s “Frida: Painting Hope” is landing in Costa Rica with a fully immersive, tech-driven musical that lets audiences “step inside” Kahlo’s paintings—showtime May 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Teatro Auditorio Nacional. Costa Rican media pressure: A major press-freedom flashpoint continues as the U.S. revoked visas for five board members of La Nación, a move tied to years of conflict with the Chaves administration. Music with Costa Rica ties: The Strokes keep building hype for “Reality Awaits” (June 26) with “Falling Out of Love,” recorded in Costa Rica with Rick Rubin. Pop culture rumor watch: Claims that Marjorie Taylor Greene moved to Costa Rica remain unconfirmed, even as she acknowledges time in the country. Sports, not art—but local relevance: Liberty says it has hit 40% mobile market share in Costa Rica, while Karol G adds a second San José concert after first-show demand sold out fast.

Press Freedom Under Pressure: The U.S. revoked visas for five of La Nación’s board members, days before Costa Rica’s outgoing term ends—an escalation that critics link to years of intimidation after Rodrigo Chaves promised to “destroy” independent media. Local Governance & Faith: Costa Rica’s new president, Laura Fernández, began her term with a Mass before Our Lady of the Angels, with bishops urging leaders to seek peace amid violence and uncertainty. Arts & Culture: The Strokes keep building their comeback—“Falling Out of Love” drops as a second preview of Reality Awaits, recorded in Costa Rica with Rick Rubin. Tech & Daily Life: Google’s Android 17 preview leans hard into Gemini AI, plus anti-impersonation security features. Animal Welfare: Florida paused sloth imports for 60 days after dozens died tied to the canceled Sloth World attraction. Music Industry in Costa Rica: KV2 Audio expands in Central America via a Costa Rica demo event with Cubism Production.

Music & Costa Rica: The Strokes keep the momentum for Reality Awaits going with “Falling Out of Love,” their second single from the June 26 release—recorded in Costa Rica with Rick Rubin. Local Arts Calendar: San José’s free Art City Tour returns May 14 with “Chepe bajo la lluvia,” linking museums and galleries with shuttle routes and late-evening openings. Audio Tech in the Region: KV2 Audio is expanding across Central America after a Costa Rica showcase hosted by Cubism Production, bringing local sound pros into a hands-on demo. Pop Culture & Language: A Spanish “word of the day” explainer spotlights “resaca” (hangover/aftermath/sea undertow), with Costa Rica’s own “goma” hangover term also making the list. Trade Tension: Panama’s cattle and dairy restrictions remain a flashpoint, with Costa Rican pressure met by continued import blocks—an arts-adjacent reminder that culture travels with policy.

Global Risk Shock: Investors are rapidly repricing world risk after the US–Israel–Iran escalation, with a new risk-and-resilience index showing big country ranking shifts. Affordable Travel Reality Check: Spirit Airlines has shut down, leaving travelers stranded and underscoring how fragile ultra-low-cost models are when shocks hit. Costa Rica in the Spotlight: Karol G added a second San José concert after the first sold out fast—tickets go on sale in phases. Trade Tension: Panama cattle ranchers say Costa Rica’s pressure won’t change the fact that dairy and meat imports are blocked until a long-running dispute is resolved. Arts & City Life: San José’s free Art City Tour returns Thursday, “Chepe bajo la lluvia,” with museum stops and shuttle routes. World Cup Build-Up: FIFA unveiled its 2026 Technical Study Group, including Costa Rica’s Paulo Wanchope, signaling deeper match analysis ahead of kickoff.

World Cup Tech Push: FIFA just unveiled its 11-member Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, led by Pascal Zuberbühler and guided by Arsène Wenger, with Costa Rica’s Paulo Wanchope among the panelists—set to analyze all 104 matches and help pick major individual awards. Costa Rica in the Spotlight: The same week also brings local momentum beyond football: San José’s free Art City Tour returns May 14 with “Chepe bajo la lluvia,” and Costa Rica hosts the 2026 Latin American Karting Championship May 15–17 at P1 Speedway. Arts & Community: In theater, Rhizomatic Rivers Productions brings “I.C.E. Baby: Inside Colfax East” (May 13–15) to Void Studios, built from years of community work with immigrant youth. Regional Cultural Links: India’s minister met Honduras officials to expand cooperation in arts, yoga, wellness, cinema, and cultural exchanges. Media Noise: Elsewhere, the week’s biggest online culture story keeps circling back to Costa Rica—Hulu’s “The Cult of NatureBoy” has viewers saying the docuseries makes the Costa Rica community look even worse than they expected.

World Cup Tech Lineup: FIFA just unveiled an 11-member Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, led by Pascal Zuberbühler and featuring Costa Rica’s Paulo Wanchope alongside Paulo Wanchope, Otto Addo, Gilberto Silva, Jürgen Klinsmann, Michael O’Neill, Tobin Heath, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Jayne Ludlow, Aron Winter, and Pablo Zabaleta—tasked with match analysis and deciding major awards. Costa Rica in the Spotlight: Laura Fernández took office as Costa Rica’s 50th president in a ceremony that underscored continuity and a conservative shift, while her government also signaled a diplomatic reset by seeking to upgrade Costa Rica’s Jerusalem mission back to an embassy. Local Sports & Culture: Costa Rica will host the 2026 Latin American Karting Championship this weekend in San José, and the arts scene gets a boost with I.C.E. Baby: Inside Colfax East running May 13–15. Coffee Meets Soccer: NESCAFÉ’s “Third Half” campaign spotlights Landon Donovan’s take that the best coffee comes from Central America and South America—yes, including Costa Rica.

World Cup Spotlight: FIFA just named an 11-member Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, tasked with analyzing tactics and picking top individual awards—led by Pascal Zuberbühler and featuring Costa Rica’s Paulo Wanchope alongside big names like Jürgen Klinsmann and Gilberto Silva. Costa Rica Diplomacy: President Laura Fernández Delgado told Israel’s Isaac Herzog she wants to upgrade Costa Rica’s Jerusalem mission into an embassy, reversing a 2006 move to Tel Aviv. Arts & Film Pipeline: Spain’s ECAM Forum (Madrid, June 9–11) unveiled its early 2026 lineup, with projects connecting Costa Rica among other countries—another sign the country keeps showing up on the international auteur map. Local Sports Buzz: In Liga MX, Alejandro Zendejas’ brace helped spark a wild América comeback vs Pumas, even though Pumas advanced on aggregate.