09 · 22 · 11

Miss Bala to represent Mexico at the Oscar and Goya Awards

Clara Sánchez/Translated by Cindy Hawes

The film is currently competing for the Horizontes prize at the San Sebastián Film Festival.

In a press release issued by Canana Films, Gerardo Naranjo said that the Academy's decision was great news. "When I make a film I think of one that I envision in my head. This is my only consideration. Then you wait for the film to sell a ticket or two. It turned out that this film was a box office hit and we were very surprised. Now that the Academy has supported us with their vote, it's clear to me there is a space for personal and commercial movies. If this is the moment for contemporary Mexican cinema, it's great news."

In the same release, Diego Luna, executive producer, added, "All of us who participated in the project are very proud. The film speaks for itself and I am fully confident that it will continue to be successful outside Mexico. Gerardo Naranjo is a great director and we are very fortunate to have worked with him."

Gael García Bernal, also executive producer, commented, "Representing Mexico with this film at the U.S. and Spanish film academy award ceremonies may signifiy another watershed in Mexican cinema. Salud."

Miss Bala's 100 copies are currently being screened in Cuernavaca, Toluca, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Morelia and Mexico City. A total of 97,713 people saw the film during the last two weeks.

Naranjo's film won two awards for Best Actress and Best Director in the recent edition of the Latin Beat Film Festival in Tokyo.

Miss Bala had its international premiere in the last edition of the Cannes Film Festival. It also participated in the Toronto and San Sebastián Film Festivals. The film will be presented on Oct. 1 at the New York Film Festival, on Oct. 8 at the Chicago Film Festival, and on Oct. 19 at the London Film Festival.

The 84th Oscar Awards Ceremony and the XXVI edition of the Goya Awards will be held in February 2012.