Five days of intense activity filled the streets of San Miguel de Allende with cinema
The first stage of the Guanajuato International Film Festival in its twenty-second edition came to an end yesterday. The city of San Miguel de Allende hosted a five-day celebration filled with cinema, surprises, elegance and a high level of art reflected in our Official Selection of 223 films screened and 120 in competition, from 47 countries.
From the first day, GIFF offered a sample of the high organizational capacity and joy that floods this celebration by paying tribute to great Mexican actor José Carlos Ruiz at the inaugural gala, actor with twelve nominations and six victories in the Ariel awards who received the Cruz de Plata (highest award granted by the festival) and the Silver Medal that the UNAM Film Library awards to outstanding personalities of world cinema. A few days later, at the Keynote Conference, José Carlos Ruiz shared numerous tips on the acting role and
In turn, the prominent director Gus Van Sant, an indispensable figure in the independent film scene for several decades, also received the Silver Cross as an international tribute to a career that has opened doors to new forms of expression and film distribution. Author of an outstanding filmography that includes films such as Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting, Elephant, Milk or Don’t Worry, He Wont Get Far On Foot, the award-winning American director participated in a Keynote Conference where he reviewed several moments of his career and offered advice to young people interested in opening their own way in filmmaking.
Oscar-nominated actress Yalitza Aparicio served as spokeswoman for the Zero Violence Against Women campaign. Aparicio said a few words about the need of women to know their rights in order to guarantee lives free of violence. In addition, he shared with the public his own experience and efforts to carry a message to society that generates a dialogue on gender equality.
It is a privilege to have the participation of the Philippines as a Guest of Honor Country in this edition of the Festival. Coinciding with the celebration of the first centenary of Filipino cinema, contact with its film industry also strengthens the ties established during 66 years of bilateral relations, and 50 since the signing of the Mexico-Philippines Cultural Treaty.
We have the presence in our city of the great Filipino director Kidlat Tahimik, who with his cinema has found a way to equate life and work in a deep and intensive search for the values that make up the identity of his country – and his own . His camera captures compelling images that seeks to fuse life and work in an intensive spiritual quest.
The Association of Women in Cinema and Television awarded the MUSA to the famous actress Queta Lavat and the restorative and assembly specialist Guadalupe Ramírez. Both women are an institution for the national film industry. His tireless efforts in front of and behind the cameras have contributed to the greatness of our cinema.
With a program dedicated to increasing dialogue, professionalization and contact between film critics in our country, The Critics Hall started its activities in San Miguel with analytical projections and workshops that will continue in the second stage of the Festival.
Always at the forefront, GIFF presents once again its Epicenter program, a special show that has become an important axis of innovation and showcase around the future of film narratives. Attendees were able to enjoy the best of national and international VR Cinema, as well as special samples with a wide selection, immersive experiences, conferences, workshops and an important link between filmmakers and Virtual Reality developers.
We appreciate the generosity of the audience, the organizing committee, the volunteers, our guests, and all the people who contribute their will and effort to make this new edition of the Festival possible, which now brings to Guanajuato the best of world cinema enriching our society with art and culture of first level. More Cinema Please!