09 · 25 · 07

5th FICM Program Presented

Translated by Mario Murgia

[imagen]Daniela Michel, Director of the FICM, Alejandro Ramírez, Chairman; and Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Batel, Vice-president, held a press conference today in order to release the program for the 5th Morelia International Film Festival, which will take place on October 5th - 14th in Morelia and Pátzcuaro, both in the state of Michoacán.
Michel said that horror film “El orfanato”, by Antonio Bayona, will open the 5 FICM. The film was produced by Guillermo del Toro and will be screened on Friday night at the José María Morelos theater.

OFFICIAL SELECTION
Alejandro Ramírez announced that this year’s competition will feature 76 productions, out of which 45 are Mexican shorts, 9 are shorts from Michoacán, 16 are documentaries, and 6 of them are feature films.
“This year, for the first time, we have included the Mexican Feature Film Category, which includes first works and second works by Mexican filmmakers. The films include Cochochi, by Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán; Cumbia Callera, by René Villareal; ¿Dónde están sus historias? by Nicolás Pereda; Quemar las naves, by Francisco Franco; Todos los días son tuyos, by José Luis Gutiérrez, and La Zona, by Rodrigo Plá.”

INTERNATIONAL JURY
Ramírez emphasized the prestigious international jury that will participate in the festival this year. “We are proud to present Trevor Groth, programmer of the Sundance Film Festival; accomplished Mexican actress Cecilia Suárez; Peter Scarlet, executive director of the Tribeca Film Festival; Jonathan Romney, film critic and writer for Sight & Sound magazine; renowned producer Lizzie Francke; director Heidi Ewing, nominated to an Academy Award for her film Jesus Camp; Sean Farnel, programmer of the Hot Docs Documentary Festival; Leena Pasanen, director of the European Documentary Network (EDN), and Fernanda Solórzano, a well-known film critic.”

[imagen]SPECIAL PROGRAMS:
- From the Cannes Film Festival…
The FICM President also mentioned the traditional International Critics’ Week, featuring the following films: Nos retrouvailles, by David Oelhoffen (France); Voleurs de Chevaux, by Micha Wald (Belgium); Párpados Azules, by Ernesto Contreras (Mexico); Meduzot, by Shira Geffen and Etgar Keret –winners of the Golden Camera for Best First Work at the Cannes Film Festival–, and XXY, by Lucía Puenzo (Argentina), winner of the Critics’ Week Grand Award.
Ramírez also introduced the Canes Mudos program, a special show with live piano music celebrating the 70th anniversary of Los Niños de Morelia.
Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas emphasized the collaboration of the Embassy of France. “We are planning a selection of French shorts, as well as a season dedicated to director Jacques Demy.”

- International Premieres…
Cárdenas also mentioned some of the international premieres at the Festival: The Assassination of Jesse James, by Andrew Dominio; El Abogado del Terror, by Barbet Schroeder; The Brave One, by Neil Jordan; Hot Fuzz, by Edgar Wright; I’m Not There, by Todd Haynes; La Vie en Rose, by Olivier Dahan; The Darjeeling Limited, by Wes Anderson; Rescue Dawn, by Werner Herzog, and 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 days, winner of the Palm D’Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Director Cristian Mungiu attended a special screening last September 5th, in Mexico City.” Vicepresident Cárdenas also mentioned the Me