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Official Selection at the 14th FICM: Esa era Dania

Dariela Ludlow studied at the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica with a focus on of Directing and Direction of Photography; she also has a Masters in cinematography from the Escuela Superior de Cine y Audiovisuales de Cataluña, ESCAC, in Barcelona. She has worked as Director of Photography in film and advertising.

Her most recent film, Esa era Dania, part of the Mexican Feature Film Official Selection at the 14th FICM, tells the story of a teenage mother facing a stark reality and an unstable path that sends her in search of her identity. The film shows the challenges of what it means to educate a child alone while trying to reinvent herself day to day in a society that berates any mistakes.

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The film is divided into two parts: the first focuses on the recreation of Dania's life with her daughter, a portrait of her confusion as a teenage mother who doesn't study or work. The second part shows her reactions to the way she was in the first.

With the presence of the director, Daniela Ludlow; producers, Rodrigo Heranz and Ana Hernandez; editor, Miguel Schverdfinger; and actress, Dania Deloya, a screening and press conference were held this morning, ending with a Q&A session.

Daniela Ludlow on the development of the film

"Thanks for being here, I think you have enjoyed the film. It was a very long process that took nearly six years. I've always liked to talk about things that I know and the protagonist is my niece, I knew the process she went through since she became pregnant, it was very hard for her."

"When I heard her say that she believed that a child would give meaning to her life, it was very shocking. Then I started thinking her case could be the same for other young people who are suddenly lost without references or ideals."

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Dania Deloya on her role in the film

"I was living a fantasy, I was lost and did not see it. Seeing myself how I was very shocking. I have moments of weakness but I can recognize them now; I was not well emotionally and did things wrong."

"I didn't act so much, there were scenes where I was told what to do, but actually, it was my life that was on display in front of the camera. That prompted me to study pedagogy, is what I do now, it was a process that marked me for life. "

Rodrigo Heranz on the distribution of the film

"We finished the film they day before yesterday and we hope that showing it at the festival will get a distributor interested. We do not have a detailed plan, but we always believed that it could be directed to video libraries and middle schools ".

Esa era Dania before an audience

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