For more than forty years, the +International Critics’ Week at Cannes has carried out a thorough search of new talent from around the world. Filmmakers like Ken Loach, Bernardo Bertolucci, Denys Arcand, Wong Kar-Wai, Guillermo del Toro, and Alejandro González Iñárritu had their International debut in our section. It is a great pleasure and honor to contribute to this mission of introducing the most talented young filmmakers of the moment to the venues at the Cannes International Film Festival (whose international import is widely recognized).

Each year, the Critics’ Week presents first and second features, supporting, accompanying and mentoring young authors. Professionals around the world have always recognized the value of our work —the last four Caméra d’Or prizes (Best First Feature Award at Cannes) awarded to films from our selection within the last five years attests to the importance of our effort.

Furthermore, the increasing presence of directors previously discovered by the Critics’ Week in the festival’s official competition is partly the result of our diverse and selective programming over the years.

The International Critics’ Week also features a number of short film programs, offering ample exhibition of short works by programming them before each feature length film (the best way to impose a program of shorts in a festival of features!)

We are delighted to be in a partnership with a relatively young international festival, which offers acompetitive section of short films, documentaries and, this year for the first time, feature films. The Morelia International Film Festival protects the interests of young filmmakers in Mexico —a country that has traditionally had an important presence in the Critics’ Week.

Our 2007 edition, besides proudly presenting three Mexican feature films (phenomenal!), was graced with the warm presence of a first-rate Mexican
ambassador: Gael Garcia Bernal, joined by Diego Luna, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuarón, and Carlos Reygadas, among others, during a memorable evening (organized by the MIFF). This is also the third year we include a selection of the winning films from the Morelia International Film Festival in the official programming of the International Critics’ Week. This exchange not only strengthens our partnership, but also helps to promote Mexican cinema, showing the dynamism and creativity of its filmmakers.

As to the Palme d’Or for short film awarded to Ver llover —it was a triumph for the filmmaker Elisa Miller and actress Sofía Espinosa, present at Cannes, as well as for all of us!

For all of these reasons, we are pleased to participate for the fifth consecutive year in the grand and stimulating environment of the Morelia International Film Festival. Considering that Latin America is now probably the most dynamic region in the world in terms of creative film output, this event is gradually becoming an important reference point for professionals who work in the industry and other international film festivals.

The festival’s exceptional organization and hospitality, the quality of its programming and the dedication of the individuals behind it —Alejandro Ramírez Magaña and Daniela Michel in particular, contribute to its rigor and success.

For someone like myself, who travels from festival to festival, Morelia is by far one of the best events in the film world. Long live the partnership between the Morelia International Film Festival and International Critics’ Week!

JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BERJON
General Delegate
International Critics’ Week (Festival de Cannes)

Movies:

Funukedomo, Kanashimi No Ai Wo Misero - Funuke, Show Some Love, You Losers!
Meduzot - Medusas
Nos retrouvailles - In your Wake
Párpados azules - Blue Eyelids
Voleurs de chevaux - Horse Thieves
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