Mexican short films screened at Cannes Critics’ Week

Three Mexican short films that were part of the Official Selection of the 14th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) were screened on Thursday May 25, 2017, as part of the Cannes Critics’ Week.

This screening was possible thanks to the strong ties between both festivals. For the twelfth year in a row, a selection of Mexican films from FICM is shown out of competition at the Critics’ Week.

The short films that were presented at Cannes 2017 are:

• Verde / Green by Alonso Ruizpalacios (14th FICM Best Short Fiction Film)
• Microcastillo / Microcastle by Alejandra Villalba García
• Juan Perros by Rodrigo Ímaz Alarcón (14th FICM Best Documentary Film)

The screening took place at Espace Miramar and among its assistants were Charles Tesson, artistic director of the Cannes Critics’ Week; Daniela Michel, FICM’s general director; Alejandra Villalba García, director of Microcastillo; Arturo Jara Kafuri, producer of Microcastillo; Rodrigo Ímaz, director of Juan Perros; and Juan Pablo San Esteban, producer of Juan Perros.

Arturo Jara Kafuri, Alejandra Villalba García, Daniela Michel, Charles Tesson, Rodrigo Ímaz, Juan Pablo San Esteban

DOWNLOAD MORE IMAGES FROM THE SCREENING HERE

Charles Tesson began by remarking on the tight bond between the Critics’ Week and FICM:

“This relationship began naturally because, like the Morelia Film Festival, the Critics’ Week discovers emerging talents with their first and second works. Personally, every time I go to Morelia it gives me great pleasure to notice the growth of the quality and quantity of films it shows. It’s a festival that has grown but remains faithful to its first friends and guests. It’s a warm, inviting and very generous festival.”

The Critic’s Week artistic director also spoke about the selected films:

“The short films that we are about to present are a real face of what Mexican cinema is today. The first, set in the periphery of the city, is a documentary called Juan Perros. The other two are fictions filmed in very tight spaces; the first is called Microcastillo, about the links between family and religion. The second is a fiction set in the urban environment, in a suffocating security vehicle, called Verde.”

Charles Tesson gave the floor to Daniela Michel, who declared:

“First of all, I would like to extend my gratefulness to the Critics’ Week, because it is thanks to this section that Mexican cinema is positioned in the world today. Last night I had the chance to to talk to Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Guillermo del Toro, and they shared how grateful they are because they began their career in Cannes at the Critics’ Week. For FICM, having an alliance with the Critics’ Week is a wonderful honor.”

After a few words from the directors and producers, Daniela Michel ended the presentation celebrating the surprising diversity that exists between the young Mexican filmmakers. Charles Tesson agreed with the comment and added:

“The films talk about cities, about money, about family, about religion. There is also variety in terms of form, both in fiction and in documentary. [The program] is an example of how rich and diverse Mexican cinema is today.”

The 56th edition of the Critics’ Week will end on May 26, 2017. The 15th edition of FICM will take place from October 20 to 29, 2017.

Download the press release here: Press Release_ FICM at the SC