by Leopoldo Soto
The 33rd FICG, directed by Iván Trujillo, is consolidated as the most important in Latin America, offered three "Master Class" by Guillermo del Toro, each lasting four hours, taught by the winner of two Oscars, who had an audience of 1,200,000 students, present in theaters and on TV.
Wonderful facilities with five times more space and capacity than the TIFF headquarters (Toronto International Film Fest.), The Cinematheque of Ontario, the most important in North America, as they claim.
Carlos Saura, present, received the Mayahuel award for his career.
The CEA, Performing Arts Ensemble, was opened (twelve rooms) with capacity for eleven thousand spectators, and will be added to the Telmex Auditorium.
Catalonia, guest of honor, offered in addition to the film exhibition with the presence of Ventura Pons, an exhibition at the Sitges Festival, the work of photographer Tony Catany deserved a magnificent exhibition at the MUSA (Museum of the Arts).
Raul Padilla, president of the Board of Trustees of the FICG, reported that this year 263 films were screened, 112 in Competition, 32 screens but with greater capacity, with 1,800 and 900 spectators; respectively. In addition the "Wide Screen" that includes the entire front of the Cinemateque.
If we analyze the subject, we could affirm that "identity" and "human values" would be common denominator of works like "Killing Jesus" by Laura Mora, which portrays the violence in Medellín; as well as "8 out of 10" by Umansky Brenner, about violence against women, "Ayotzinapa, the passage of the turtle" by Enrique García Meza, is a denunciation of state violence; all this, common to all Latin America.
On the other hand it is hopeful that this festival detonated the career of the director Jimena Montemayor, who in "Remains of wind" portrays an atmosphere of memories and nostalgia.
FICG is part of Film4 Climate, an environmental organization that is part of the World Bank, and its representative Giulia Braga was present.
A privilege to have witnessed this great celebration of the festival, where Guillermo del Toro, one of its founders, returned as a consecrated person, holding two Oscar Awards.