Yesterday at 11:00 hrs, GIFF’s inaugural act for the 20th edition in its second venue, Guanajuato City, took place. In the morning, the Auditorium of the University of Guanajuato received the participants of the Identity and Belonging University Documentary Competition, in which six teams from different institutions all over Guanajuato portrayed different stories that are part of this beautiful state.
The program began with a welcome speech from the President of the University of Guanajuato, Luis Felipe Guerrero Agripino, who extended a warm welcome to all present, highlighting the importance of GIFF opening up its festivities in this iconic university establishment, a place in which several arts and disciplines come together. He was followed by Carlos Torres, in representation of Municipal President Edgar Castro Cerrillo, exalting the 20 years the festival has worked with the City of Guanajuato.
Then Sarah Hoch, Director of GIFF, took the microphone and presented a video profile of the 20th Anniversary of GIFF and then announced the young participants of a new economic incentive not only for the three winners, but for all the teams. Also present was Jorge Sánchez Sosa, representative of IMCINE, His Excellency Mr. Pierre Alarie, Ambassador of Canada, who was thankful to represent this edition’s Spotlight Country and surprised everyone by offering an all-expenses paid trip to Canada for someone in the audience. Enrique Avilés, the State Government’s Social Communications representative, closed out the protoccol by presenting the six documentaries.
From there it was a cinematic party in which each team cheered on their directors and special guests for each film. They wore clothing that represented their topics and were ready to provide the best applause once the final credits rolled. This is how the documentaries Peloteros, Rudísimo, Coroneo, Noches de Teatro, Éxodo and Escaramuza de Palo marched one by one across the screen, the last one accompanied by the escaramuza girls and a mariachi; they were all supported by a great audience and ready to take their journeys across a wide array of festivals once GIFF comes to a close.
These short films will be awarded on Saturday July 29 at the Juárez Theater within GIFF’s Closing Ceremony.
