05 · 17 · 11

Morelia at Cannes

Mariana Linares desde Cannes/Translated by Cindy Hawes

The three people who introduced the winning FICM short films represented the past, present and future of the relationship between FICM and Critics' Week in this special program: Jean Christophe Berjon, general delegate at Critics' Week since 2004; Carlos Garza, FICM programmer, and Charles Tesson, next year's general delegate at Critics' Week.

Jean Cristophe Berjon spoke of the relevance of FICM in the film world. "After only eight years, Morelia has become one of the most important festivals in the world. The first evidence of this is that Daniela Michel, its director, is a jury member of the Un Certain Regard. The second is that the Cannes Festival director, Thierry Fremeux, has praised two festivals in the world: Sundance and Morelia. The Critics' Week and the Morelia International Film Festival have maintained a solid relationship for the past several years and this program proves it." Berjon described the winners of the 8th Morelia International Film Festival as "authentic films full of energy and strength."

Carlos Garza, who has been the FICM programmer since its beginning, thanked Critics' Week for opening such an important space for Mexican film. "It is an honor that the Morelia Film Festival has had an important home at Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival for many years."

The short films selected to participate in the special program include: Busco empleo (Looking for a Job) by Francisco Valle (who died in 2010), Special Mention in the Fiction Short Film category; Carne que recuerda (Flesh That Remembers) by Dalia Huerta Cano, Best Mexican Short Documentary, and Ponkina by Beatriz Herrera, Best Animated Short Film.

Charles Tesson, 2012's general delegate at Critics' Week, ended the presentation with high praise for the Morelia Film Festival. "Everyone spoke about how wonderful the Morelia International Film Festival was and when they sent me there I realized that it is an incredible festival because of its programming and because of the possibility of establishing solid relationships with people who dedicate themselves so passionately to making films. Morelia is a unique festival because it has achieved this combination."