The 30th annual Guadalajara Film Festival (FICG) opens on Friday, March 6, bringing hundreds of films, industry professionals, press and public together in a week-long celebration of cinema.
Billed as one of Latin America’s most important film industry events, the festival largely serves as a market for Iberoamerican filmmakers to promote their films and share their experiences with moviemakers from all over the world. Venues throughout the city will screen more than 400 feature, documentary and short films, with official festival selections competing in Mexican and Latin American film categories.
This year, special events include the presentation of the international honorary Mayahuel Prize to Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci, who will be in attendance, along with a retrospective of his works. Italy is the festival’s guest country this year (see story right).
Other honorees in 2015 include veteran Mexican screen and television actresses Isela Vega and Victoria Abril, as well as director Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, one of the founders of FICG.
Considerable press attention is focused on the festival’s competitions in several categories.
–22 movies are competing for the Premio Mezcal (and 500,000 pesos) for Best Mexican Film.
–15 films are in the running for Best Iberoamerican Feature.
–16 films are entered in the Best Iberoamerican Documentary category.
–41 films compete for Best Iberoamerican Short Film.
16 movies vie for the Maguey Prize for films promoting the unique challenges that accompany sexual diversity.
In addition to all the films playing at the Expo Guadalajara (FICG headquarters), Cine Foro, Teatro Diana and the many outdoor festival locations, Cinepolis Centro Magno will fill their screen capacity with festival films during the event. To peruse the full schedule, visit www.ficg.mx.
Other events
–Masterclass with Luis Estrada, director of acclaimed Mexican satires such as “El Infierno,” “La Ley de Herodes,” and “La Dictadura Perfecta.” Expo Guadalajara, Friday, March 6, 10 a.m.
–Homage to director Bernardo Bertolucci. Sunday, March 8, 6 p.m. Sala de Cine Isela Vega.
–Interview with acclaimed Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro. Monday, March 9, 4 p.m. Sala de Cine Isela Vega.
Workshops
–Cinematography workshop with Richard Crudo, president of the American Society of Cinematographers. Chapala Media Park, March 7-9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
–Sound design workshop with Martín Hernández, Oscar nominated sound recordist on “Birdman.” Hotel Hilton, March 7-9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
–Editing workshop with Nacho Ruiz Capillas, winner of Mexico’s Goya Editing Award for the film “The Others.” Expo Guadalajara, March 7-9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gala shows
Six films will play at the Teatro Diana for charity gala events, wherein celebrities and special guests appear on the red carpet and money from the elevated ticket prices goes toward different charities. Selections include “La Íncreible Historia Del Niño De Piedra” on Sunday, March 8, “The Price Of Desire,” also on Sunday, March 8, “Estar o no Estar” on Monday, March 9, “Il Capitale Umano” on Tuesday, March 10, “Messi” on Wednesday, March 11 and “Lake Los Angeles” on Friday, March 13. All gala films cost 100 pesos and start at 9 p.m. except for the children’s animated feature “La Íncreible Historia Del Niño De Piedra,” which starts at 5 p.m.
The only English language film in the series is “The Price of Desire,” which tells the controversial story of how famed architect Le Corbusier effaced and defaced Eileen Gray’s moral right to be recognized as the author of her work and as one of the most forceful and influential inspirations of a century of modern architecture and design. The Spanish film “Messi,” narrates soccer star Lionel Messi’s story from his early life to international stardom. In “Lake Los Angeles,” a middle-aged Cuban man and a ten-year-old Mexican girl bond over being away from home in the hopeless backdrop that is Lake Los Angeles.