The Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) kicked off its 40th edition by welcoming distinguished members of the film industry. Both national and international guests enjoyed the celebration that inaugurates the various activities that will take place from June 6 to 14 to celebrate, study, promote and rediscover the seventh art.
The opening gala opened amidst a mixture of emotions with the red carpet, where personalities such as Dolores Heredia, Juan Antonio Bayona, Manolo Caro, Mónica Lozano, João Gonzalez, Eugenio Caballero, Antón Álvarez (C. Tangana), Yerai Cortés and Tania García paraded.
As has become a tradition after four decades, the event began with the screening of FICG Minute. For 60 seconds, the Festival itself became cinema, that "divine monster" represented on this special occasion by a centaur created by cartoonist José Ignacio Solórzano Pérez "Jis".
The ceremony continued with Andrés Zuno presenting the video message from the Rector General of the University of Guadalajara, Karla Planter Pérez, who proudly and enthusiastically recognized FICG as one of the most emblematic cultural projects of the University and one of the essential events for Ibero-American cinema.
"Today we celebrate 40 years of stories, it's a real pride to be here. Forty years ago this began as a small exhibition, today it is a transforming force for our city," said Andrés Zuno with respect to the long trajectory that FICG has had, being one of the most important film events in Latin America and the longest running in Mexico.
For his part, Guillermo Gómez Mata, president of the Guadalajara International Film Festival Board of Trustees, celebrated the fact that FICG has managed to reach round numbers in a country that challenges the existence of cultural projects. He shared with the audience his enthusiasm for this moment, wishing long life to the cultural project promoted by Raúl López Padilla.
"Since its origin as a showcase of Mexican cinema, our festival has been a celebration of the talent, diversity and vision that distinguish the cinematography of Ibero-America and the world. We have witnessed the development of cinematographic language, the passage of new generations of filmmakers and the impact of cinema on our society," he said.
The evening continued with an emotional video message from the general director of FICG, Estrella Araiza, who emphasized that the Guadalajara International Film Festival changes lives: "It is a space where hope is born, where you can dream and meet those who made the films that formed you. She celebrated the Festival's 40th anniversary of sharing Mexican and international cinema, reviving cinematographies that mark history and generate memory.
Host Giovanna Romo joined Andres Zuno on stage to share the pleasure of honoring Mexican talent made woman: Dolores Heredia, of whom the audience was able to witness a series of iconic moments in her career.
Dolores Heredia, whose talent has led her to be part of more than 60 feature films and various projects on the small screen, received from the hands of Guillermo Gómez Mata the Silver Mayahuel Tribute for her outstanding and multifaceted career in film, amidst a shower of applause and cheers.
The actress, born in La Paz, Baja California Sur, accepted the statuette with emotion and congratulated FICG for its work in bringing together film lovers for 40 consecutive years, the same length of time as her career.
"I'm celebrating 40 years since I first stepped on stage and it's time to celebrate. I celebrate, I am grateful. My heart is expanded and happy," he shared. "The strength of meeting, of being together, that is the strength of festivals, of seeing cinema in cinema: to meet, to resist, to continue making cinema in a world that forces us to do something else. The world is falling apart and we are here, telling stories to entertain us and leave something in the soul of the viewer."
On the other hand, Mexican producer Mónica Lozano was recognized with the Mayahuel Industria FICG Tribute for her outstanding work in and for Mexican cinema. With more than 24 years of experience and a solid business vision, her name has appeared in more than 40 credits, including those of some of the most internationally recognized Mexican films of recent decades, such as Alejandro González Iñárritu's Amores Perros and Eugenio Derbez's No se aceptan devoluciones, among others.
After receiving the Mayahuel from Estrella Araiza, the producer said she was very excited and expressed that she was honored to receive this recognition from the oldest film event in our country.
"They say that the forties are the best years of life. I wish the Festival that for many, many more years, they continue to summon us to make us recover our amazement in front of the screen, and to remind us that all of us who make Mexican cinema are part of the same family," he said emotionally.
And to make the emotions flow more in the evening, Yerai Cortés and Tania García caressed the ears of those present with the interpretation of the song "Los almendros", which moved the attendees to the gala, who enjoyed this small but powerful proof of what they will find in the film La guitarra flamenca de Yerai Cortés, directed by Antón Álvarez (C. Tangana) and that will be the first function of the Galas a Beneficio.
The last statuette of the night was loudly applauded when it was received by Spanish filmmaker Juan Antonio Bayona, who was recognized by FICG with the Mayahuel International Tribute. The director of films such as The Orphanage, A Monster Comes to See Me and The Snow Society declared himself a "bastard son of Guadalajara".
"To come back here 25 years later to collect a career tribute award, the truth is that I still haven't stopped to think about my career, I've never looked back and when you see these videos is when you realize a little bit," he reflected.
One of the highlights of the event was the mention of the Guest of Honor: Portugal. An alliance that strengthens the cultural ties between our nations, said Zuno, and also enriches the panorama of Ibero-American cinema. To speak about this, the president of the Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual (ICA) of Portugal, Luís Chaby Vaz, took the stage and said he was proud to represent Portuguese cinema at FICG40.
Chaby Vaz thanked the Festival team for their professionalism and kindness. He also declared: "Portugal is a country that is characterized by a very diverse cinema and has a unique line. That line, the line that all the people produce with enormous freedom". A freedom that, he assured, must be protected, since it is what Portuguese cinema is made of.
Ready to see the opening film, Soy Frankelda, the audience finally welcomed brothers Arturo Ambriz and Roy Ambriz. The directors of the first Mexican stop motion animated film took the stage along with scale figures of characters from the story.
Full of gratitude, Roy and Arturo Ambriz said they were honored to be part of such an important festival. They thanked all those who were involved in the creation, diffusion and recognition of Soy Frankelda. From Estrella Araiza, the Cinema Fantasma team and even Guillermo del Toro have been, in their words, fundamental in bringing this film to the public.
This handcrafted work is a love letter to storytelling. Set in 19th century Mexico, the film centers on Frankelda, a writer who is ignored by all but the monsters born of her own imagination. Confronted with her creations, the protagonist is forced to confront her subconscious as she explores the limits of fiction.