10 · 06 · 08

Plaque to honor José Escriche unveiled

Clara Sánchez/Translated by Caroline MacKinnon

[imagen]Visibly moved, Daniela Michel the director of the Morelia International Film Festival, today unveiled a commemorative plaque in the name of José María “Pepe” Escriche the founder and director of the Huesca International Film Festival who passed away on March 29 of this year.

As Michel finished reading the plaque in auditorium 1 of Cinépolis Centro, she could not contain her tears. The plaque reads: The Morelia Internatioanl Film Festival pays homage to José María Escriche (September 14,1950-March 29,2008), founder and director of the Huesca International Film Festival. Our dear friend and advisor as well as an example of generosity, knowledge and bravery, he gave us the honor and happiness to be his friends. He breaks our hearts with his parting. Morelia, Michoacán, October 6.

Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Batel, vice president of the FICM, directed a heartfelt discussion before the unveiling, after welcoming Purita Escriche, José María’s sister; Ángel Santos Garcés, director of the Huesca International Film Festival; and Lázaro Venereo, sub-director of the Huesca International Film Festival’s steering committee, as well as a group of friends from Huesca who came to the event.

“As we heard from Daniela, who I must thank for introducing me to the person we are honoring, we wanted to dedicate this sixth edition of the festival to our friend José Escriche without whose enthusiasm the Morelia Film Festival would not be what it is. He served as a model public figure, was engaged with the people, was socialist and combative, we can only be grateful for, each one of us, his sincere friendship, his consistency and his teachings. As members of the Mexican film community, we thank him for the help received and for his selflessness. We know that even with his physical absence Huesca will continue being a place where Pepe’s generous spirit year after year will direct the festival. We want to pay homage to Pepe as I am sure he would like us to, holding our festival committed to an idea, and with a smile. Pepe lives on because he continues in our memories and in our hearts, but above all he lives on because he is present in what it is we do every day.”

[imagen]Among the people present at the event, was Diego Galán, the former director of the San Sebastián Film Festival. Later, in the auditorium, Daniela Michel gave the El Ojo award, the most celebrated prize in the festival, to Purita Escriche. “In recognition of his friendship, generosity and contribution. For his invaluable help, all the years he worked to drive and promote short films by way of the Huesca International Film Festival,” said Joaquín Rodríguez, the director of programming at the FICM.

“Thank you so much for being here, so many people have come all the way from Spain for this moment. There are many familiar faces and others that I can’t see through the tears, I would like to give this award with all of my affection to the best friend of the festival,” Daniela Michel said.

“Wherever he is, I imagine that he would be the happiest man in the world with this homage and to know that we are here with his family, all of his friends from Huesca. We wanted to be with him,” Purita Escriche said.
Rodríguez then presented a selection of Mexican short films that were chosen by José María Escriche to be in the Huesca Film Festival, and ended up as winners. The program was made up of David, directed by de Roberto Fiesco; Entre dos, directed by Michel Franco, Hasta los Huesos directed by René Castillo; Los maravillosos olores de la vida, directed by Jaime Ruíz Ibáñez; El Milagro directed by Ernesto Contreras; La Morena directed by María Novaro; Nadie regresa por tercera vez directed by Alejandro Lubezki; Las olas del tiempo directed by Carlos Salces and Un Viaje directed by Gabriela Monroy.