The 20th edition of the Guanajuato International Film Festival has launched with an inauguration at the San Miguel Allende Parish where the inaugural tribute was paid to the great Mexican actress Isela Vega. The audience waited for her between tears and applause while a parade through the center of the city marched in her honor, eventually delivering her to the Red Carpet to witness the inaugural event. She arrived in pure San Miguel fashion with mojigangas and big stars made out of paper.
Moments before this great screen personality arrived, singer Milck surprised her audience by singing her anthem Quiet in Spanish accompanied by a chorus of girls from the San Miguel de Allende Library. Then the inauguration protocol took place, with the presence of Sarah Hoch, along with San Miguel de Allende’s Municipal President Ricardo Villareal García, Secreatary of Tourism Fernando Olivera Rocha, deputies Juan José Álvarez and Verónica Agundis, the representative from Spotlight Country Canada Amy Darling, and Cristina Prado from IMCINE.
After warm words from all these people welcoming the audience to this new and important edition of GIFF, as well as praise for our National Tributee, Mexican actress Arcelia Ramírez took the stage to pay this most deserving of tributes to Isela Vega who, taking a page from Milck, made a strong emphasis on her revolutionary attitude in defending the rights of not only women, but of all human beings. “We must end chauvinism and violence toward children, women and everyone.”
After receiving from Sarah Hoch a locally designed gift and the “More Cinema Please!” Silver Cross, Isela left the stage as gracefully as she’s known for and as this year’s GIFF National Tributee, she made way for the opening night film Brimstone & Glory and reminded us “Cinema is a glorious thing and we will keep promoting it!”
“You excite me and I adore you, how beautiful you are, San Miguel de Allende”
Isela Vega.
