10 · 22 · 24

Marcelo Caetano Presents BABY, His Moving Second Feature, at 22°FICM

Omar Sosa

Continuing with the program held by the 22nd Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) in collaboration with the Critics' Week, a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival, Baby (2024), the second film by Brazilian director Marcelo Caetano, was presented.

The screening was presented by Ava Cahen, General Delegate of the Critics' Week, who enthusiastically thanked the audience, preparing them to live a novel cinematic experience.

She defined the film as “a sublime, contemporary, Romanesque and queer melodrama set in the underworld of the city of São Paulo.” This time Marcelo Caetano portrays a young homeless man who is getting out of jail and meets a sex worker, a man older than him, with whom he falls in love.

“What we liked about this melodrama is that it proposes a truly contemporary vision of this genre and avoids all the pitfalls,” praised Cahen, in addition to mentioning that the characters in this story are not black or white in their entirety, but rather ambiguous because the society that surrounds them molds them that way, making this film more interesting.

In Cahen's words, “it is beautiful, heartbreaking and sensual”. Much credit for making this happen goes to Ricardo Teodoro, a stage actor who makes his feature debut with this film. “Remember this name because you will surely hear it later,” Ava Cahen added to begin the screening.

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21 · 10 · 24

Ava Cahen Presents THE BRINK OF DREAMS, Co-Directed by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir

Alan Rodríguez

With an introduction by Ava Cahen, general delegate of the Cannes Critics' Week, the film The Brink of Dreams, co-directed by Egyptian filmmakers Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir, was screened as part of the 22nd edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). 

The film was awarded the Golden Eye Award for Best Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival and portrays the journey of young Egyptian aspiring actresses who rebel against patriarchy. The personality of each of the protagonists permeates this beautiful documentary with a clear orientation that prompts a subtle movement between reality and the imaginary.

“This is a documentary with a distinct and pure tone, full of these young women's energy. I hope the film will inspire and make you want to raise your fist for all women around the world who are fighting to defend their rights and to live the life they want to live,” Ava Cahen said.