09 · 05 · 07

Cristian Mungiu Opens FICM’s 5th Edition. 6.10.07

Clara Sánchez / Translated by Mario Murgia

[imagen]Award-winning film 4 Months 3 Weeks 3 Days by Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu premiered yesterday at Cinépolis Diana as a preview of the forthcoming 5th edition of the FICM, which will take place from October 4th to 25th.

The film, which was recently awarded the Golden Palm at Cannes, deals with the issue of abortion in the early 80’s, when it was penalized by Ceaucescu’s Communist regime. The main characters are two young students, Otilia and Gabita, who must face the difficulties of their decision in a hostile and punitive society.
At the end of the screening, architect Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Batel, Honorary Vice-president of the FICM, Public Accountant Jaime Ramírez, Vice-president of the FICM, and Daniela Michel, Chairwoman of the Festival, held a brief press conference before introducing Mungiu, the first filmmaker to have been invited to the FICM.

Cárdenas Batel said he was flattered by Mungiu’s presence. “We’ve been meaning to invite him over, even if not for the Festival. We were so eager to have him.”
Cárdenas also emphasized the importance of the Festival’s 5th edition. “This edition will be full of surprises. We hope it will represent a good year for everyone. This is the last one under an administration that has been truly supportive. It should also be an opportunity to strengthen our bonds with Michoacán, regardless of the administration in office. The Festival should keep growing and have a greater production for the benefit of this state. This is an effort that has taken many years to develop, and it should surely leave its mark.”

Similarly, Ramírez, Chairman of the Tourist Bureau of the State of Michoacán, said that the Festival has become the state’s greatest event. “At a meeting we had with the Secretary General, the Minister of Tourism, and the Governor, it was stated that the festival is now more popular among tourists and members of the film industry than the fantastic International Music Festival, or the Night of the Dead in Tzintzuntzan, which is internationally renowned. We are very pleased. It will definitely keep growing. We are sure that it will be the next administration’s duty to ensure its permanence.”

[imagen]Daniela Michel expressed her delight welcoming Mungiu. “He is very interested in Mexico. This year, at a festival introducing Mexican feature films, it is important to acknowledge the extraordinary work of this young Romanian filmmaker. He has definitely set an example for Mexican directors, and it’s a pleasure to have his film with us.”

Afterwards, Michel offered a quick preview. “It is our aim to disseminate and support the work of young filmmakers. For its fifth edition, and for the very first time, the Morelia International Film Festival will consist of four categories –Mexican Short Film, featuring 45 productions; Mexican Documentary, with 16 films; the Michoacán Category, featuring 9 films made by local directors, and for the first time, the Mexican Feature Film category, consisting of six productions. Among the special features of the Festival’s 5th edition, we are proud to present the films from the International Critics’ Week of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival –Meduzot by Etgar Keret and Shira Geffen, winner of the Golden Camera; Nos retouvailles by David Oelhoffen (France); Voleurs de Chevaux by Micha Wald (Belgium); Párpados Azules by Ernesto Contreras (Mexico); and XXY by Lucía Puenzo (Argentina), winner of the International Critics’ Week Grand Award. The Festival’s Official Program will include an attractive assortment of more than 50 Mexican and international new films. Among the most important ones are La leyenda de la Nahua