In 1939, during World War II, the film industry in the US and Europe declined, because the materials previously destined for film production now were for the new arms industry. Many countries began to focus on making films about war, leaving an opportunity for Mexico to produce commercial films for the Mexican and Latin American markets. The cultural landscape of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema provided a conducive environment for the rise of a new generation of directors like Emilio Fernández and Luis Buñuel, among others.