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Yesterday at the Guanajuato International Film Festival’s Inauguration in Guanajuato City, tributes were paid to two great figures of international cinema, both born in Germany but with careers that taken them to different parts of the world. Art director Brigitte Broch, who has lived and worked most of her life in Mexico while director Fatih Akin, of Turkish parents, made his cinematic life in Germany, though it now turns out his wife is half-Mexican (he jokes that his children are more Mexican than he is).
The night’s program began with the tribute to Brigitte Broch. After a video presentation, the acclaimed art director was asked up to the stage to receive video messages from two of her colleagues: actor/director Diego Luna (who worked with her in Abel) and multi-lauded director Alejandro González Iñárritu, who spoke to Brigitte as if to a mother, wishing he were there to see her get the Silver Cross and promising he would buy her a drink (even though she doesn’t drink). Brigitte received the honor with many emotions and with each surprise she threatened to break down and cry. In her speech she mentioned that in an interview she once said she was “not from here, or there, but from over here”, “over here” being Mexico, mentioning how despite her German roots, she calls herself a Mexican. As she bestowed the Silver Cross upon her, GIFF director Sarah Hoch told Brigitte that despite what she says in her video, she can’t be tired, because there are many filmmakers aching to work with her. Brigitte dared these filmmakers to bring her a script she can fall in love and she’ll go back to work. Sarah Hoch suggested Vitamin B.
The tribute to Fatih Akin was next, for whom after presenting with a video detailing his career, he went to the stage to speak, saying how excited and welcomed he feels in Mexico. He sad he comes from very far, from a place that like Guanajuato, it rains all the time (referring to the recent weather). As she gave him the Silver Cross, Sarah Hoch mentioned that she’s been trying to get Fatih Akin to the festival for a long time and that at 44 years of age he is one of the youngest filmmakers to receive the Silver Cross for his career. Fatih mentioned a desire for returning. This tribute was followed by the screening of Fatih’s latest film In the Fade, which he describes as a film against those who don’t believe the world is enough for everyone.
Don’t miss what GIFF has for you in Guanajuato! More cinema please!
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