The Miracle of Making Films: Viggo Mortensen at THE DEAD DON'T HURT Press Conference

Viggo Mortensen steps into the Centro Cultural Universitario in Morelia. He looks timid in a red T-shirt with the image of former Chilean president Salvador Allende, an olive green jacket, and black sneakers. As he passes by, he is met with compliments, glances, and camera shots. He moves in front of Danny Huston and then next to producer Regina Solórzano and Daniela Michel, founder and general director of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). He looks around at times. The press waits for the beginning of the conference for The Dead Don't Hurt, directed by Mortensen and the film that inaugurates this year's festival. 

First Development Film Lab for Indigenous Filmmakers of Latin America Kicks Off at FICM 2023

As part of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), the first session of the Development Film Lab for Indigenous Filmmakers of Latin America was held at the Cultural Center of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo on Thursday.

Filmmakers from Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, Colombia and Mexico gathered at 10 a.m. to officially open the Lab, which aims to support the development of film projects by providing tools and allowing reflection on issues ranging from production to distribution and promotion.

BERLIN PEOPLE: an Opportunity to Document “the Music of Freedom”

The documentary Berlin People, by Agustín Valdez Moncada and Gil Vázquez, was presented during the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), with the presence of the Director of Canal 22, Pavel Granados, and the Deputy Director of Production and Programming, Eduardo Nava.

“A Formidable Artist”: The 21st FICM Paid Homage to Ricardo Nicolayevsky

In company of Rosa Nicolayevsky, sister of Ricardo Nicolayevsky, and friends of the artist, the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) paid homage to the great Mexican performer, filmmaker, writer, musician, and beloved friend of the FICM Ricardo Nicolayevsky with a special screening called Impromptu.

Curated by filmmaker and artist Ximena Cuevas, the exhibition gathers several experimental short films and media projects by Nicolayevsky, which display his great artistic genius, sensibility and talent.

STELLA DALLAS Screened, 98 Years After Its Release, at the 21st FICM

Legendary American director Henry King made several of his more than 120 films in Mexico, most notably in Morelia, which he described as his “favorite city in the world.”

The Critics' Week at the 21st FICM

Joined by Daniela Michel, founder and general director of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), Ava Cahen, the general delegate of Critics' Week, kicked off the program dedicated to this parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival at the 21st FICM with the presentation of Àma Gloria (2023, dir. Marie Amachoukeli).

Documentary on Colombian President PETRO presented at FICM

As part of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), the feature-length documentary Petro, by Emmy-winning director Sean Mattison, was presented with the festival's founder and General Director, Daniela Michel, producer Trevor Martin,  cinematographer Thomas Laffay and sound man Juanma López in attendance.

RICHELIEU Presented by Director Pier-Philippe Chevigny at the 21st FICM

Richelieu (2023), by director Pier-Philippe Chevigny, was presented at the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), with the attendance of cast members Ariane Castellanos, Gerardo Miranda, and Luis Oliva.

Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard Unveil Commemorative Armchairs Prior to Grand Gala for MEMORY

Actress Jessica Chastain and actor Peter Sarsgaard unveiled their commemorative armchairs at the Teatro Matamoros, as part of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), prior to the Grand Gala for Memory, a film by Mexican director Michel Franco.

James Ivory Attended the Screening of his Film THE BOSTONIANS at the 21st FICM

Director, screenwriter and producer of more than 40 must-see films, James Ivory, returns to the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) in its 21st edition, after receiving the UNAM Film Archive Medal in 2019.

REBELADAS, a Film of "Independence and Freedom", was Presented at the 21st FICM

The documentary Rebeladas, directed by Andrea Gautier and Tabatta Salinas, was presented as part of the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). The film addresses how for more than a decade, the Colectivo Cine Mujer used this art form as a political tool to denounce gender issues that defined Mexican society at the time. Today, almost five decades after its formation, the documentary turns to the group's protagonists to tell their story and contrast the reality they portrayed in their films with the panorama faced by Mexican women today.

THREE BROTHERS is presented at the 21st FICM with filmmaker Francisco Joaquín Paparella

Tres hermanos, by Argentine director Francisco Joaquín Paparella, was presented at the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). The presentation was attended by the filmmaker, who said he was grateful to be presenting the film in Mexico, his home for more than 16 years.

"The admiration I had for this work dictated the way": Fernando Frías de la Parra at the Press Conference of NO VOY A PEDIRLE A NADIE QUE ME CREA

No voy a pedirle a nadie que me crea (2023), by Fernando Frías de la Parra, was presented at the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) with the attendance of actors Alexis Ayala, Natalia Solián, and Darío Yazbek Bernal, and producer Arturo Sampson.

A Restored Version of MACARIO was Presented at the 21st FICM

A restored version of Macario (1960), directed by Roberto Gavaldón, was presented at the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM).

21st FICM and Fundación Televisa Present Photographic Exhibition on the Films of Fernando de Fuentes

The founder and director of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), Daniela Michel, and the curator of Fundación Televisa's Photographic Collections, Héctor Orozco, toured Fundación Televisa's exhibition on Mexican cinema.

The Panel “Derechos laborales en la industria,” Organized by Tinta, Was Held at the FICM 2023

As part of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival, this Sunday, October 22, a panel called “Derechos laborales en la industria,” organized by Tinta, Sociedad de Escritores Audiovisuales y Cinematográficos México, was held at the auditorium of the Centro Cultural Universitario at the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo.

LATIDO by Katina Medina Mora: A Glimpse Into Infertility

Fifteen years ago, Katina Medina Mora was in Morelia as a production assistant. This time she visits the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) as a director premiering her film Latido (2023), accompanied by actresses Marina de Tavira and Camila Calónico, producer Inna Payan, and director of photography Nur Rubio Sherwel.

PERDIDOS EN LA NOCHE, by Amat Escalante, Had a Special Screening at the 21st FICM

The film Perdidos en la noche had its special screening at the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), with the presence of director Amat Escalante, producer Jim Stark, and actresses Ester Expósito and Bárbara Mori.

The screening took place at the Mariano Matamoros Theater in the presence of the festival's general director and founder, Daniela Michel, who said she had the opportunity to see Perdidos en la noche at the Cannes Festival where "it had an extraordinary reception."

THE BLACK SWAN by Henry King at the 21st FICM

Following the Mexico Imaginario program, which is dedicated to director Henry King during the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), Daniela Michel, founder and General Director of the festival, together with film critic Jorge Negrete, presented the film The Black Swan (1942), based on the novel of the same title by Rafael Sabatini.

Daniela Michel Presented THE HOLDOVERS, by Alexander Payne, at the 21st FICM

The founder and general director of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), Daniela Michel, was in charge of presenting The Holdovers, the most recent film by American filmmaker Alexander Payne.

"It's a film that should never have existed, because it was made by the perfect-imperfect marriage": Viviana Besné Presents LLÉVAME EN TUS BRAZOS

Llévame en tus brazos (1954), a film directed by Julio Bracho and written in collaboration with José Carbo was presented as part of the special screenings of the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM).

The film tells the story of a father and his two daughters, Rita and Martha. Rita is in love with José, who has been fired for organizing a strike for workers' rights. Rita offers herself as a pledge to pay off her father's past debts. She leaves home and starts being taken advantage of by several men, including a politician who promises to turn her into a great dancing star.

SEÑORA INFLUENCER, Mónica Huarte's First Leading Role at the 21st FICM

The film Señora Influencer, by Carlos Santos, was presented at the Teatro Mariano Matamoros, as part of the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM).

The presentation was attended by the director, as well as actresses Monica Huarte, Barbara Leombardo, Guillermo Dorantes and Diana Carreiro.

An Invitation to Reframe "Normal": TODO EL SILENCIO Presented at the 21st FICM

As part of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), Diego del Río, known for his work in theater, gave a press conference about Todo el silencio, his feature film debut.

The story, written by the winner of the Ariel for Best Original Screenplay in 2014, Lucía Carreras, follows Miriam, whose life closely concerns deaf people. In the mornings she teaches Mexican Sign Language (LSM) and in the afternoons she is part of the staging of a play, all while maintaining a relationship with her girlfriend Lola, an oralized deaf woman. However, Lola's world begins to collapse when otosclerosis begins to make her deaf.

Rodrigo Prieto Unveils Armchair Before Special Screening of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON at the 21st FICM

The 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) recognized Mexican cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto with an armchair embroidered with his name, prior to the special screening of Killers of the Flower Moon, by film director extraordinaire Martin Scorsese.

Rodrigo Prieto photographed the filmmaker's new film, the fourth time the Mexican has worked with the American director.

Julián Hernández Presents His New Film LA HUELLA DE UNOS LABIOS at the 21st FICM

The Mexican film La huella de unos labios, directed by Julián Hernández, was presented at the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM).

In La huella de unos labios, Román is a B movie actor who is confined to his apartment while a pandemic keeps the world on edge. Aldo, a young indigenous man, is an essential worker who is allowed to go out. The two live across the street from each other in a housing unit. They know each other online, speak to and even see each other on video calls, but can't meet. Eventually, the temptation to break their confinement arises.

Roy Szuper Presents His New Film (CAN’T) LET IT GO at the 21st FICM

During the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), Roy Szuper presented (Can’t) Let It Go (2023), a film written, produced and directed by him.

Film director, screenwriter and FICM special guest James Ivory, who played a crucial role as producer so the film could be made, was present at the screening. “I have known Roy for a long time. He made a comedy out of an American tragedy: President Trump's election," he said.

Fernando de Fuentes' Grandson Presented LET'S GO WITH PANCHO VILLA

At the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), the film Let's Go with Pancho Villa (1936), directed by Fernando de Fuentes, was presented. The film is the third part of the Revolution Trilogy made by the most influential director of the time before the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.

TODOS LOS INCENDIOS, Directed by Mauricio Calderón Rico, Had Its Press Conference at the 21st FICM

As part of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), Todos los incendios (2023), directed by Mauricio Calderón Rico, had its press conference attended by actors Ximena Ayala, Sebastian Rojano, Ari López, Francisco Sánchez, and producers Daniel Loustaunau and Araceli Velázquez as well as the director himself.

Henry King’S TWELVE O’CLOCK HIGH at the 21st FICM

Henry King's Twelve O'Clock High was presented at the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) as part of the Mexico Imaginario program, which offers a retrospective of the director's work.

A SEASON WITH ISABELLA ROSELLINI, an Approach to the Actress as Farmer, Was Presented at 21st FICM

The documentary A Season with Isabella Rossellini was presented at the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) with filmmaker Marian Lacombe in attendance.

Lillah Halla's LEVANTE was Presented at the 21st FICM

The 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) featured Levante (2023), Brazilian director Lillah Halla's opera prima.

Darius Kaufmann and Eytan Jan Invite Audiences to Learn More About the History of Film with AL CALOR DE LOS AÑOS FRÍOS

During the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), Eytan Jan and Darius Kaufmann presented Al calor de los años fríos (2022), a documentary they recently co-directed.

The film was presented by film critic Jorge Negrete and was attended by Daniela Michel, founder and general director of the festival, and Ava Cahen, general delegate of the Cannes Critics' Week.

"A Fairy-Tale-like Afghanistan": James Ivory Presents A COOLER CLIMATE at the 21st FICM

The celebrated and multi-award-winning director James Ivory presented his documentary A Cooler Climate (2022) at the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM).

This documentary is a compilation of images that a young Ivory filmed on a trip to Afghanistan in the 1960s. The trip soon becomes an introspective and revealing reverie that changes the director's life. 

Eddie Muller Presented THE BEAST MUST DIE at the 21st FICM

The Beast Must Die was presented at the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), with Eddie Muller, director of the Noir City Film Festival.

"The film you are about to see is here thanks to the efforts of my fellow filmmaker, Fernando Martin Peña, originally from Buenos Aires, although I was also a little involved," said the film noir expert.

LUMBRENSUEÑO, Directed by José Pablo Escamilla, Had Its Press Conference at the 21st FICM

As part of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), the press conference for lumbrensueño (2023), directed by José Pablo Escamilla, was held at the Museo Casa Natal de Morelos.

When asked by the press where the desire to show the hopelessness of today's youth towards the world and the country came from, the filmmaker responded: "I grew up in Toluca, a place where exuberant nature coexists with an industrialized world that affects people's psyche."

Jordi Mollá Perales Intervened Jackson Pollock's "One" at the 21st FICM

The Morelia City Council and the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) held an event in which Spanish actor and director Jordi Mollá Perales performed an artistic intervention on the Velvet Terrace at Cinépolis Morelia Centro.

Special Screening of Adrián González Camargo's EL ORIGEN DE LAS PRINCESAS at the 21st FICM

As part of the special out-of-competition screenings of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), El origen de las princesas, a film by Morelia-born director Adrián González Camargo, was shown at the auditorium of the Centro Cultural Universitario on Wednesday, October 25.

Eduardo Valenzuela's Debut Film EL HALCÓN at the 21st FICM

The 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) presented El Halcón, the feature debut of director, screenwriter and producer Eduardo Valenzuela.

"An exercise in survival": Jodie Foster Received the Award for Artistic Excellence

History had been waiting for Jodie Foster long before she arrived in the city of Morelia, since around 1991. From the moment she steps foot on the red carpet of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), the audience and the screams greet her like flowers. She doesn't look like a movie star, she even moves away from the spotlight when possible. Instead, she approaches the audience, signs autographs, and smiles; her eyes twinkling behind blue-tinted glasses. She walks the red carpet like a lamb, this is only the beginning because while she has time for everyone, history always awaits Jodie Foster.

"The pandemic forced studios to change”: Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall at 21st FICM

Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall gave a Master Class at the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). The pair agreed that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way studios make films, in the sense that the issue of whether a film is released first on digital platforms rather than in theaters has been downplayed.

Mariana and Santiago Arriaga's A CIELO ABIERTO Premieres at the 21st FICM

A cielo abierto, the feature debut of Santiago Arriaga and Mariana Arriaga, premiered at the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). The co-directors presented their film in the company of the cast and their father, Guillermo Arriaga, who wrote the screenplay. The film is part of the Official Selection and competes for the Ojo a Largometraje Mexicano (Mexican Feature Film Award).

Hirokazu Kore-Eda's MONSTER Was Presented as Part of the 21st FICM

Hirokazu Kore-Eda's Monster, winner of the Queer Palm 2023, was presented at the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) in the presence of Franck Finance-Madureira, president of the award given to LGBTIQ+ films at the Cannes Film Festival.

STRAIGHT, an LGBTQIA+ Production by Marcelo Toba at the 21st FICM

Mexican filmmaker Marcelo Tobar presented his most recent production, Straight, at the 21st edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). The film's authors Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola, producers Rodrigo Trujillo and Óscar Uriel, and actors Alejandro Speitzer and Bárbara López were also present.

Jodie Foster Awarded the UNAM Film Archive Medal at the 21st FICM

Actress Jodie Foster was awarded the UNAM Film Archive Medal at the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). The award was presented to her in room 5 of Cinépolis Morelia Centro by Hugo Villa, General Director of Film Activities of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in the presence of FICM President, Alejandro Ramírez, and founder and General Director Daniela Michel. 

"I like to make films creating an atmosphere of enjoyment": Jodie Foster Gives Master Class at the 21st FICM

Veteran actress and film director Jodie Foster, accompanied by editor Nick James, gave a master class at the Melchor Ocampo Theater during the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). 

The Coppel Foundation Presented FROZEN at the 21st FICM

As part of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), in collaboration with the Coppel Foundation, through its Cultural Development and Public Spaces action line, the film Frozen (2013) was presented.

The Paul Leduc Archive Microsite Was Presented as Part of the 21st FICM

As part of the 21st Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), the microsite Paul Leduc Archive was presented in the presence of Hugo Villa Smythe, General Director of Film Activities of UNAM, researcher Israel Rodríguez, and the children of the legendary filmmaker, Valentina and Juan Leduc.