10 · 21 · 16

14th FICM inauguration ceremony

Arantxa Luna (@mentecata_)

FICM celebrated its opening ceremony of its fourteenth edition with the screening of the extraordinary film Neruda (2016), by Pablo Larrain. The gala was held at Cinépolis Plaza Morelia, attended by renowned personalities of national and international cinematography.

After a few words of welcome, actress Johanna Murillo, emcee, gave the floor to the Mayor of Morelia, Alfonso Martínez Alcázar, who recognized the importance of FICM in Mexico: "The Morelia International Film Festival has become one of the most prestigious film festivals in our country. " He also celebrated "the laudable work of the festival does to create an important platform to show the world what is happening in the country and in Morelia."

On the stand, the governor of Michoacan, Silvano Aureoles Conejo, congratulated FICM’s team for the hard work that, year after year, brings the best of filmmaking in the country. In his speech, he stressed the commitment of Alejandro Ramirez Magana, president of FICM, Daniela Michel, General Director, and Cuauhtemoc Cardenas Batel, vice president in the effort to promote culture and the welfare of the state: "The mystique that surrounds this festival allows the world to be reunited with Morelia’s beauty. I urge you to visit this city, the Mexican town with the most buildings; over a thousand architectural monuments, many of which have historical significance. I invite you to douse yourselves in the beauty of these buildings that are silent witnesses of history ".

Gael García and Luis Gnecco, stars of the film, expressed enthusiasm to be inaugurating the fourteenth edition of FICM with Neruda. Luis Gnecco, who plays the poet Neruda, said: "It is a tremendous honor to be here, opening the festival with this movie in this magnificent city that was so important to Pablo Neruda". Meanwhile, Gael Garcia recalled his childhood in Michoacan, its proximity to the place and what it meant for him to have grown up here, "I am proud to be in this city which is the capital of the State where I come from. My family is from Huetamo, Michoacan. Growing up there gave me the opportunity to understand what is happening on earth, not in the world, on earth." In turn, he expressed his affection for FICM: "I am delighted to be here, I feel I have been more times but it may be due to the intensity of each visit. "

Alejandro Ramirez Magaña, on behalf of Daniela Michel and Cuauhtemoc Cardenas Batel, thanked all the guests for their attendance, the valuable and indispensable support of the Government of the State of Michoacan, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, the Goethe Institute, IMCINE, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Critics' Week in Cannes, among other sponsors and companies, in addition to the audience in each edition, strengthening the popularity of the festival: "it's been fourteen years of passionate work that insists on a specific mission: to promote the talent of Mexican filmmakers, strengthen what is one of the largest film industries in the world today: the Mexican cinema."

In the fourteenth edition of FICM will present 106 works in competition including short films, documentaries and feature films; in addition to more than 100 national and international films, galas and special showings.

FICM is proud to work on one more edition and reaffirm its commitment to filmmaking. Welcome!