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Foreword Michoacán is the seat and melting pot of a myriad of cul tural expressions and the site of a diverse and beautiful geog raphy, adorned by the unique architectures of its cities and villages. Amidst its rich cultural heritage, is its capital city Morelia, which went from being the Guayangareo of the Pirindas, to the beautiful colonial city of Valladolid. And after setting the stage for the ideas of the Enlightment-the foundations of liberal thought-it became Morelia. Since then, Morelia has been the artistic core of Michoacán. Its splendid architecture, its parks and monuments have housed great artworks, including the work of Manuel Ocaranza, Félix Parra, José Jara and Alfredo Zalce. The city has also produced great musicians, a tradition which begins with Mariano Eli za ga, in the xix century, and culminates in the brilliant oeuvre of Miguel Bernal Jiménez. This city also inspired Francisco Javier Clavijero, Samuel Ramos, and the novelist José Rubén Romero. Many poems have been penned by literary masters in its honor- among those who have paid tribute to this wonderful city are Concha Urquiza, Ramón Martínez Ocaranza, Jesús Sansón Flores, Francisco Alday and Tomás Rico Cano, besides may others. Since 2003, the Morelia International Film Festival has enriched this artistic tradition. Besides organizing a number of events that promote local, national, and world cultures, it has made Morelia the site where multiple ways of seeing and creating the world emerge. We have witnessed how each year this young festival becomes the meeting point for creators, producers, and artists of the national and international film community, and how each year it achieves its mission: to establish a forum for promoting young Mexican filmmakers and to bring together filmmakers, local audiences, and members of the international film community. The Michoacán state government, in its commitment to supporting programs and efforts to foster social wellbeing, gladly joins government institutions, organizations, universities, private enterprises, cultural groups, and citizens, in the effort to make possible this Sixth Edition of the Morelia International Film Festival. It is our wish that the festival maintain its status as one of the most valuable international film forums; one which brings together the greatest talents of the seventh art and a growing number of film enthusiasts. In the mission to strengthen and increase artistic and cultural activity in art centers, schools, plazas, and streets across the State, the state government, along with the festival, will begin a program which, like the one already in place in Patzcuaro, will bring Michoacán residents closer to film art. For all these reasons, I am honored and pleased to welcome film makers, producers, screenwriters, directors of photography, editors, composers, actors-in short, all the makers and protagonists of the magic of the cinema that enriches our spirit. I hope that their work and vision which infuse this array of fictions and realities, continue to foster a culture of tolerance and respect for the different ways of being, thinking and cre ating, and contribute to the improvement of society so that Michoacán can keep building a better world. Welcome to Michoacán. Leonel Godoy Rangel Welcome to Morelia On behalf of the City Council of Morelia, it is my absolute pleasure and honor to welcome the Sixth Edition of the Morelia International Film Festival to the city. On this occasion, we will have the opportunity to enjoy the work of renowned film directors, as well as the work of upandcoming filmmakers: new national and international talents whose work breathes new life into the seventh art. The filmmakers and visitors who honor us with their presence will enjoy the festival's diverse programs, and will experience the warmth of Morelia and its people -all of us who have worked hard to ensure that their stay is pleasant and memorable. Each street, plaza and corner of this pink city is ready to receive them with open arms and make their experience an extraordinary one. We are confident that they will be delighted by the festival's many offerings, by the cultural wealth of the city, and of course, by the people who've made this city a World Heritage site. Once again, welcome to Morelia, a great city, for a great country. Fausto Vallejo Figueroa Sixth Morelia International Film Festival The Morelia International Film Festival begins a new cycle in its sixth year of existence. After five years in which the festival emerged, evolved and expanded, in this sixth edition, it enters a new stage of maturity and consolidation. This fall, the Sixth Morelia International Film Festival showcases the work of dozens of Mexican filmmakers in the short film, documentary and, this year for the second time, feature film categories as well as in the Michoacán Section. There are several familiar faces among those whose work has been select ed-many of them are past winners of the f icm, others are veterans who have continued to excel in their art. Nothing gives us more pride than to witness the success of young filmmakers who found in Morelia, a door of opportunity -the support to venture further in their artistic trajectories. Starting this year, the Morelia International Film Festival will be officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the United States, so the winners in the fiction and animation short film categories will be considered for an Oscar nomination. Throughout the year, the f icm has another life, which a lot of us have the pleasure of enjoying, and which extends far beyond Mexico's borders. For instance, just a few days after the f icm concludes, the best of the festival is shown in theaters in Mexico City to the delight of audiences in the capital city. In addition, as part of its partnership with the International Critics' Week of the Cannes Film Festival, the f icm has managed to create an important venue for the festival winners at this prestigious European film festival. Likewise, during the month of September, a selection of the festival's programs, is screened at the New York festival Celebrate Mexico Now. Lastly, the f icm also collaborates during the months of February and March in the traveling documentary showcase Ambulante, gira de do cumentales. Now in its fourth year, Ambulante has become an important promoter of documentary film. On a separate front, throughout the year -and thanks to the support of local institutions and organizations- the festival offers conferences, seminars, and workshops on a number of filmrelated subjects in its offices in Michoacán, for the benefit of Michoacán residents. This Sixth Morelia International Film Festival is dedicated to the memory of an unrelenting promoter of film culture, our dear friend José María Escriche, founder and longtime director of the extraordinary Huesca Film Festival. Pepe was an example to all of us-his wisdom and advice helped shape what our festival is today. His absence leaves us with an enormous void, but his generous spirit and commitment will be with us during every one of the festival screenings. Lastly, we are grateful for the support and enthusiasm of all those whose generosity and work make possible the Morelia Interna tional Film Festival, and ensure that it continues to be a diverse and valuable space for the growth and development of the film industry. Alejandro Ramírez Magaña Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Batel Daniela Michel Message from the Mexican Institute of Cinematography The Morelia International Film Festival
has become a heaven for cinephiles and young Mexican filmmakers. Like
every high-profile film festival, it constitutes an important meeting
point for young makers and industry professionals, a privileged venue
for the exchange of ideas, images, stories, narrative strategies, and
creative initiatives. MARINA STAVENHAGEN |
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