10 · 14 · 06

Hodges and Carriére at Opening Night Gala (15/10/06)

Clara Sánchez

The Morelia International Film Festival kicked off last night with a ceremony that was attended by two of its most prominent guests: British filmmaker Mike Hodges and French screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière. The ceremony was presided over by Alejandro Ramírez, president of the FICM, Daniela Michel, director, and Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Batel, honorary vice-president.

The red carpet rolled out for Lázaro Cárdena Batel, Governor of the state of Michoacán, and Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Solórzano. Personalities such as Michael Fitzgerald, juror of the documentary film competition; the cast and crew of Quinceañera (Emily Ríos, Araceli Guzmán Rico, Chalo González, Richard Glatzer y Wash Westmoreland); Martha Higareda; MC´s Julio Bracho and Jaydy Michel; Daniel Gruener, director of Morirse en Domingo, and it’s cast (Maya Zapata and Humberto Bustos); Julián Hernández, director of Cielo Dividido; Plutarco Haza, who is making his short film debut with Hugo y el mar; and actress Martha Higareda were all seen at the red carpet.

Michel emphasized that the Festival’s aim is to support young talent in film. Cárdenas expressed his gratitude to Jean Claude Carriére, who, he said “wrote, along with Luis Buñuel The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, That Obscure Object of Desire, and Belle de jour (which will screen on Monday at Cinépolis Centro 3) almost 30 years ago, and has worked with the likes of Milos Forman, Jean Luc Godard, Andrej Wajda and Louis Malle.”

Cárdenas also thanked Mike Hodges for coming to Morelia. Hodges has worked with actors such as Charlotte Rampling and Clive Owen. Ramírez stated that, for the first time, Cinépolis Diana, Universidad and Perisur, in Mexico City, will showcase the best of the Morelia Film Fest from the 20th to the 26th of October. He added that Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna’s production company, Canana, will present Ambulante’s new program.

Last year, Ambulante showcased the FICM´S award-winning documentaries. Jaydy Mitchel, who worked in Chema de la Peña´s Isi /Disi, presented Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, directors of Quinceañera, winner of both the Audience Award and the Grand July Prize at this year´s Sundance. Michel said the film “deals with the themes of sexuality and humor with a great deal of elegance; it is excellent.” Glatzer confessed that, for him, films are “the spirit of a place and it’s people.” Westmoreland commented that Eco Park was possible thanks to the people of this neighborhood. “They gave us lots of advice,” he said. “They are not well-off but they have an immense heart.”

Araceli Guzmán, who was born in Fresno California but raised in Morelia, thanked her family and her friends: “I’m glad I do what I do. Making this film was a great experience for me as I got a chance to work with these fabulous directors and this cast. I’m really happy to be here in Morelia at this renowned festival.”