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EFÍMERA, by Luis Mariano García, Was Presented by Mix Mexico- Cinema and Sexual Diversity Festival at the 20th FICM

Gabriela Martínez

Gabriela Martínez

Efímera, by Luis Mariano García, was presented at the 20th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), the inaugural film of the most recent edition of the Mix Mexico- Cinema and Sexual Diversity Festival

Efímera tells the story of Emilia, a teenager with the ability to see people close to death glow. Always lonely and focused on the future, she is confronted by reality when she sees a schoolmate glow, while she begins a romantic relationship with Renata, which will lead her to finally appreciate her present.

To celebrate this valuable collaboration, Arturo Castelán, director of Mix Mexico- Cinema and Sexual Diversity Festival, shared a powerful text with FICM, highlighting the power of cinema to promote social change through freedom of expression and dialogue

BEST WISHES AND REMINICING

Arturo Castelán

A girl is about to understand everything that stands before her: life, death, love, and that splendor in those who are about to say goodbye that only she can see... This is a brief account of the film Efímera (2021), directed by Luis Mariano García and produced by Víctor Léycegui.

And it is a true honor to celebrate two decades of the extraordinary work that our esteemed Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) has carried out with this stupendous debut. Reminiscing on an endearing moment for us: the great pleasure of counting with the generous and admirable Daniela Michel as President of the Jury of our Mix Mexico- Cinema and Sexual Diversity Festival, held last June at CDMX.

It was in 2010, at the eight FICM, that we presented a curatorship of short films on sexual diversity selected in collaboration with our unforgettable Joaquín Rodríguez. The show sold out a few hours after tickets went on sale, making it necessary for a second screening to be arranged, which also sold out fast the following day.

The trust and delight that reigned while making the special selection were made possible for us by the characteristic audacity and sharpness of our dear Daniela, together with the programmer Shannon Kelley, without forgetting Enrique Ortiga, who in 1998 during the Mexican Short Film Conference (precursors of FICM) allowed us to premiere a special screening of an openly gay short film.

Let us also remember that the short film David (2005), by Roberto Fiesco, the first openly gay short film financed by IMCINE, was awarded at the second edition of FICM in 2004.

And these memories make being able to present Efímera this year, for an event of this category, so special. Not only does it represent the opportunity to show a beautiful story of understanding and love to an increasingly incisive and supportive audience, but it also gives us the opportunity to remember that cinema always upholds diversity and promotes social change. And this is only possible through freedom of expression and dialogue, which are exemplified each year in the realization of the exemplary, diverse, and open event that is FICM.

An event we feel a kinship with, and which we now celebrate and wish a long life of countless movie nights and that same free love that’s gifted to us through the dreams the screen inspires.