Casa Leo PR represents an exciting evolution for two dedicated industry professionals ready to bring their expertise directly to clients. The agency promises 'end-to-end and bespoke' services, filling a genuine gap in the Europe-Latin America indie market. Raindance alumni taking this entrepreneurial leap signals healthy growth for independent film promotion.
Insiders note that Martínez's departure as executive director leaves significant shoes to fill at Raindance. The timing — mid-2026 — raises eyebrows given festival season momentum. Sources suggest the split wasn't entirely amicable, with whispers of creative differences over strategic direction and resource allocation between London operations and Latin American initiatives.
Casa Leo PR was officially launched July 16, 2026, according to Variety's exclusive reporting. The agency is headquartered in London and specifically targets the Europe-Latin America independent film corridor. Martínez previously served as Raindance's executive director while Orozco held producer responsibilities.
When a festival's executive director walks out the door with his producer partner to launch a competing services firm, that's not just career ambition — that's a calculated power play. The indie film circuit is about to get a lot more interesting.
David Martínez and Jacky Orozco are making moves that have the independent film world buzzing. The Raindance executive director and his producer partner announced their departure from the festival organization this week with the launch of Casa Leo PR, a London-based boutique publicity and strategy agency targeting Europe and Latin America's indie scene. The timing of this announcement has industry observers raising eyebrows.
Martínez built significant influence during his tenure at Raindance, one of Europe's prominent independent film festivals, while Orozco's production credentials added depth to their partnership. Now they're positioning Casa Leo as a "much needed addition" to the market — language that suggests they see gaps in what currently exists for indie filmmakers navigating cross-continental promotion. Casa Leo PR promises "end-to-end and bespoke PR, strategy" services according to Variety, which broke the story exclusively on July 16, 2026.
The agency's geographic focus is notable: Europe and Latin America represent distinct but interconnected markets that often get overlooked by larger Hollywood-centric agencies. By positioning themselves as specialists in this corridor, Martínez and Orozco appear to be carving out a defensible niche rather than competing directly with established players. The departure raises questions about Raindance's immediate future.
Finding a replacement executive director mid-festival cycle creates operational challenges, and the loss of two high-profile team members simultaneously suggests potential internal friction that wasn't publicly acknowledged. Festival organizations typically prefer smooth transitions when leadership changes occur — this one came packaged with the announcement of a competing business venture. What's particularly intriguing is what Casa Leo represents beyond just new employment.
Martínez and Orozco are essentially monetizing relationships built during their Raindance years, offering indie filmmakers access to expertise and connections developed within festival infrastructure. That kind of knowledge transfer can be both valuable for clients and uncomfortable for former employers watching their alumni commercialize institutional goodwill.
