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From AMORES PERROS to MAGELLAN: 25 Years of Gael García Bernal's Splendid Career

Omar Sosa

To kick off the final stretch of the 23rd Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), a press conference was held with filmmaker, actor, and special guest of the festival, Gael García Bernal. Daniela Michel, founder and director of the festival, welcomed the actor.

At this year's festival, we were able to enjoy the first feature film in which García Bernal starred: Amores Perros (2000, dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu), in its restored version, as well as the actor's latest project, Magellan (2025), by Lav Diaz.

Throughout his 25-year career, Gael García Bernal has fought against the idea of a structured path to success. “In reality, what we do is a pagan ritual, incredible, very unacademic, instinctive, and crazy. If we don't live it that way, the films don't have a life afterwards,” he added about his experience as a filmmaker.

Something that Amores Perros allowed the actor, in addition to finding his passion for acting, was self-discovery in a process of constant freedom.

When he got the offer to make Magellan, he was really drawn to that same freedom that the film, the role, and the director's filming style would allow him.

Regarding Magellan, he said that at first he was very confused as to why they had chosen him, and it was this very doubt that led him to accept the role. The answer became clear to him as filming progressed: “Of course, these roles have to be played by mestizos,” he said.

About Amores Perros, he wanted to emphasize its beauty and importance, not only in Mexican cinema, but also in international cinema. He specified that what young people like so much about this film is the question it raises: “Where are we going? Where are we headed? What’s next?” These are questions we all ask ourselves as we grow up.

He also shared some news about Ambulante, an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting documentary film, and La Corriente del Golfo, a production company he founded with Diego Luna. His intention with both projects is “to give a little shape to what we love, which is cinema.”

As a producer, Gael García Bernal has learned to see cinema differently. He realized that from that position, he has to be a fan, from pre-production to after the making of a film.

Ambulante celebrates 20 years since its founding. The theme of the next edition will be Fabulate and Conspire, to rethink the culture of proverbs and modernize them, contributing something from contemporary language.

“Your perspective on something expands, becoming more colorful and nuanced,” he said of his love of documentary films, which, in his opinion, help eliminate polarizing viewpoints and encourage conversation.

He also discussed Vivero, his new project with an educational focus on documentary film, which intertwines creation with the living processes of the territory and will be an extension of Ambulante.

Finally, he called on all artists not to give up on their creative processes, as art is a great way to fight against the fear we are experiencing around the world.