The Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) is already underway, and the Opening Gala was just the first act. After a night full of memorable moments, it's time to get down to business. FICG40 is pleased to welcome members of the film industry to the Guadalajara Film Market.
Also known as Mercado FICG, this networking space will turn the lobby of the Conjunto Santander de Artes Escénicas into the nerve center of the film industry from June 7 to 12. During these days, companies, organizations, producers, directors, creatives and distributors will meet to discuss and forge alliances in favor of production without borders.
On this occasion, the inauguration was led by the general director of FICG, Estrella Araiza, and the director of Industry and Market FICG, Ximena Urrutia. Araiza welcomed the attendees and thanked above all the presence of the Guest of Honor: Portugal, whose representatives were the Portuguese ambassador to Mexico, Manuel Carvalho, and the president of the Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual (ICA) of Portugal, Luís Chaby Vaz.
Urrutia addressed the audience and commented that this edition of Mercado FICG, like previous editions, was made with a lot of love and hard work. She also thanked those present for their attendance and said she was honored to be able to show the result of the hard work it took to bring this version of Mercado FICG to the Festival.
"We are very honored because this is a year of work. They know it, we know it, you hopefully notice it throughout this Festival. This Market is made with a lot of love.
Urrutia also noted that Mercado has multiple nooks and crannies worth exploring, such as FICGames and Mercado Citas, the latter of which is expected to surpass last year's record - 2,640 appointments - and reach at least 3,000 meetings in this edition.
For his part, the Portuguese ambassador in Mexico warmly greeted the attendees and highlighted the support of all those who have collaborated to reach today, since "every point of arrival is a point of departure. And here we go to other things, other places. Therefore, for us Portuguese, navigators that we are, who have crossed the seas, we know that from here we go to other places. It is to explore the enormous filmic universe".
Luis Chaby Vaz expressed his enthusiasm for witnessing this meeting with such a significant historical journey. "That is why we are here, to try to get closer to Mexican producers. We have a very competent market with many professionals, very adapted to all circumstances and with an incentive system package to attract filming that I think is very interesting," he said.
The inauguration closed with a ribbon cutting by Estrella Araiza, Ximena Urrutia, Manuel Carvalho and Luis Chaby Vaz. Also, visitors were invited to attend the different areas of the Market, as well as to experience this year's edition of FICGames.