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IMPULSO MORELIA Begins its 12th Edition with a Screening of Legítima

Katia Barragán

The 12th edition of Impulso Morelia, a section dedicated to promoting Mexican feature films in post-production by providing support and helping to complete their production and subsequent distribution, began as part of the 24th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) program.

Andrea Stavenhagen, director of Impulso Morelia, presided over the opening session. Speaking on behalf of Daniela Michel, she thanked the international panel of experts for their presence, as well as Cinépolis Distribución and the Morelia Department of Culture for their support.

The film presented to open this edition was Legítima, directed by Elisa Miller and produced by Nicolás Celis and Pimienta Films.

Legítima tells the story of Yakiri Rubio, a girl who was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by two brothers. After defending herself against one of her attackers—causing his death—she was charged with homicide instead of receiving protection from the justice system. The film also explores her lawyer, Ana Katiria Suárez’s, struggle as she faces various hurdles to secure her client’s release in a context marked by corruption and gender-based violence.

Among those in attendance at the opening were representatives from the film industry, international film festivals, and production and distribution companies. Notable among them were members of the Colectivo Colmena: Edgar de los Santos, Santiago Altuzarra, José Pablo Escamilla, Margot Jirash, and Daniel Loustaunau, as well as representatives from Dynamo: Daniela Gómez, Arantxa Sánchez, and Juliana Florez.

Also in attendance were talent agent Lariza Melo; María Josefina Parra of Artegios; the Artistic Director of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Karel Och; Cédric Succivalli, programmer for the Giornate degli Autori section of the Venice Film Festival; Fiorella Moretti, CEO of Luxbox; producer Marie Pierre Macia; Ava Cahen, General Delegate of Cannes Critics’ Week; Maritza Monge, Programming Coordinator for the Lima Film Festival; Samuel Chauvin, producer at Promenades Films; producer Michael Fitzgerald; Anna Gudkova, Head of the Education Department at the Alternativa Film Project; Paul Rothé, Programming Director of the International Film Festival on Art (Le FIFA); Isabel Moncada Kerlow, Distribution Coordinator at Pimienta Films; Mara Fortes, Senior Curator at the Telluride Film Festival; Daniela Cardarello, Artistic Director of the Punta del Este International Film Festival; J. Miguel Álvarez, CEO of EFD Studios Mexico; Ale Paulin, former Executive Director of the Los Cabos International Film Festival; and Beatriz Hernández, Director of the Skyline Benidorm Film Festival.