Boutique Festival Agency Casa Leo PR Launched by Raindance Execs David Martínez and Jacky Orozco (EXCLUSIVE)
Raindance Film Festival executives David Martínez and Jacky Orozco have launched Casa Leo PR, a new London-based boutique agency offering bespoke publicity and strategic guidance to independent filmmakers navigating festivals and awards season. The launch fills a gap for indie producers in Europe and Latin America who often lack the time or expertise to build festival campaigns, at a moment when the number of films being made keeps rising even as global box office and TV commissions have fallen.
Martínez, Raindance's executive director since 2021, and Orozco, its producer since 2023, say Casa Leo PR will provide end-to-end support from initial festival submission through to final screening, and will also consult for other festivals such as the UK chapter of HollyShorts. Early clients include Netflix, for a London screening of Maite Alberdi's "A Child of My Own", and director Humberto Busto, who is receiving on-the-ground support for his Venice Biennale College title "Tijuana Todavía". The move comes amid a wider industry paradox: global film output rose to 7,707 titles in 2025 from an average of 7,677 between 2017 and 2019, while box office revenue fell 18% to €29.6 billion ($34 billion) and first-run TV commissions remain 25% below their peak.
In short
- Raindance's Martínez and Orozco launch London PR firm Casa Leo PR
- Agency to guide indie filmmakers through festivals and awards campaigns
- Early clients include Netflix and director Humberto Busto's Venice title
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Independent filmmakers genuinely lack professional support navigating festival campaigns, particularly in Europe and Latin America, and Casa Leo PR provides specialised guidance from experienced industry professionals. The founders' expertise at Raindance positions them well to serve this market need, and enabling qualified individuals to apply their knowledge across related ventures strengthens the broader creative industry.
The case against
Executives running both a festival and a commercial agency serving filmmakers at that festival face an inherent conflict of interest that risks biasing programming decisions towards Casa Leo clients. This arrangement potentially compromises festival independence and raises legitimate questions about whether insider knowledge is being exploited commercially—concerns that could reasonably undermine Raindance's credibility.
Explained simply
Independent filmmakers working on limited budgets often struggle to effectively promote their films when applying to festivals and awards programmes. Many producers, particularly in Europe and Latin America, lack the time and expertise to handle publicity campaigns whilst managing production, leaving them without professional guidance on navigating the industry.
Raindance Film Festival in London has become an important showcase for independent cinema, offering filmmakers visibility and a route to attract investment, distributors and audiences. As traditional film funding and television production opportunities have declined, festival success and industry recognition have become more critical for independent filmmakers.
The film industry is currently experiencing an unusual situation: more films are being produced than in the past, yet global cinema box office revenue has fallen significantly and television commissions remain well below their previous levels. This creates intense competition for festival places and awards, making it increasingly difficult for independent producers to stand out without professional help.
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