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ENCUENTRO: UN SOLO MÉXICO, UN PAÍS DE LOCACIONES at the 24th FICM

Katia Barragán

Organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) and the Union of Tourism Secretaries of Mexico (ASETUR), the gathering titled ENCOUNTER: ONE MEXICO, A COUNTRY OF LOCATIONS took place as part of the 24th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM).

The event was attended by Daniela Michel, founder and general director of the festival; Roberto Monroy, president of ASETUR and Secretary of Tourism of Michoacán; Fernando Gutiérrez Lara, director of the Michoacán Film Commission (COFILMICH); Diana Segoviano, general coordinator of the Mexican Film Commission (COMEFILM) and Elisa Haro, Secretary of Tourism of Durango, who welcomed the attendees.

Monroy thanked Diana Segoviano and Daniela Michel for the opportunity to open and promote these spaces. He said Durango is the film industry's big sibling in our country and that, for this reason, the presence of its Secretary of Tourism was fundamental. “ASETUR’s first assembly was in Durango, and the topic was Cinema. We managed to bring together many commissioners; among them, Michoacán.”

The meeting was attended by representatives of twelve commissions that make up the Mexican Film Commission (COMEFILM), an organization that advises and supports those who wish to carry out film and audiovisual projects in Mexico. Among those in attendance were commissioners Luis Fernando Gutiérrez Lara, from the state of Michoacán; Alejandro Sosa, from the municipality of Morelia; Jorge Martínez Sánchez, from the municipality of Colima; Viridiana Domínguez Yáñez, Film Commissioner and Special Projects Coordinator for the Ministry of Tourism of the State of Querétaro (SECTUR QRO); María Elisa Mercader, commissioner of Quintana Roo; Israel Leal, commissioner of Nuevo León; Jaime Garrido, commissioner of Guanajuato; Sergio Gutiérrez, commissioner of Durango and director of Cinematography of that state; Alejandro Tavares, commissioner of Jalisco; Manuel Gómez Paz, Director General of the Public Trust for the Promotion of the Film Industry in Morelos (FIDEFILM) and commissioner for Morelos; and Chris Reza, commissioner for Hidalgo.

During the meeting, representatives from the various states and municipalities shared information regarding their work within COMEFILM, as well as details on alliances, initiatives, incentives, and legislation—either currently being implemented or planned for the future—all aimed at ensuring that the creation, production, and development of film projects receive the necessary government support and attention.

The National Chamber of the Motion Picture Industry (CANACINE) was also a key topic highlighted by Segoviano, who noted that “it exists to strengthen the film industry from the private sector and to forge alliances for the benefit of all.”

Also highlighted was the creation and opening of the one-stop shops by the Ministry of Culture, with the purpose of facilitating the identification of venues in municipalities and state capitals, as well as ensuring that creators, producers and developers of film projects have access to the facilities offered by COMEFILM.