09 · 10 · 08

The FICM stimulates cultural tourism

Clara Sánchez/Translated by Caroline MacKinnon

[imagen]Alvaro Hegewisch of Mexico’s National Council for Arts and Culture (CONACULTA) said at a press conference that the Morelia International Film Festival is becoming a major showcase, attracting both industry professionals and film buffs.

Alejandro Ramírez, Daniela Michel, and Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Batel, (president, director general and vice president of the FICM respectively) were present at the press conference giving information about the agenda for the Festival’s upcoming 6th edition.

“Morelia currently holds the status of appealing to the most movie buffs in the country, since the festival offers the best in world cinema. It continues to achieve its goal of helping young Mexican filmmakers through competitions, and by holding seminars and workshops.”

Hegewisch also addressed the festival organizers’ concern for opening up spots for the next generation of filmmakers which “they have successfully accomplished.”

Director of the Mexican Cinematography Institute, Marina Stavenhagen, stressed her support of the festival’s First Nations Forum, which she described as “an area and opportunity for essential work.”

[imagen]Stavenhagen also called attention to the efforts of Morelia Lab, a seminar for Latin American producers promoting dialogue between people in the film industry, giving aspiring producers a place to share common ideas, discuss training and update their professional skills.

Azucena Solórzano Ávila, who heads the department of visual arts at the state of Michoacán’s culture ministry, said that the state government will continue to support the festival because of its “growing value to the country, both on a national and international level.”

Similarly, Morelia’s Secretary of Tourism Roberto Monroy García, representing city hall, agreed that the city would continue to help the festival and extended his gratitude. “This festival has succeeded in launching Morelia into the big leagues.”

Alejandro Ramírez said that a study done by the Monterrey Institute of Technology’s Morelia Campus showed that the FICM brings more tourism into Morelia than the evening of the Day of the Dead.

This year the Sixth Edition of the FICM will host a concert by Michael Nyman at the Teatro Ocampo, where he will perform pieces from films he has worked on with directors such as Peter Greenway and Jane Campion.