Mexico’s Oscar Entry ‘Sujo’ Makes a Sweep of the Morelia Film Festival

As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for international cinema and a soft spot for stories that delve into societal issues, I find myself utterly captivated by the vibrant tapestry of films unveiled at the 22nd Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). The festival’s ability to attract luminary figures such as Francis Ford Coppola, Alfonso Cuarón, and Ava DuVernay is a testament to its significance in the global film industry.

The Mexican film “Sujo,” which represents Mexico in the Oscars, dominated the 22nd Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), earning the Ojo Awards for Best Movie, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.

Co-directors Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez, whose first film “Identifying Features” received several awards at Sundance and won the Best International Feature award at the Gotham Awards in 2021, also won the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema at Sundance for their second film, “Sujo,” earlier this January.

Praised by EbMaster as an “optimistic counterpoint to gritty drug war films,” the moving tale of adolescence centers on the influence of drug cartels on the younger generation. The narrative focuses on Sujo, portrayed by Kevin Uriel Aguilar Luna and Juan Jesús Varela, who lives amidst cartel violence. After his father, a sicario, is murdered, Sujo finds himself in danger, but his brave aunt manages to save him from harm.

Sujo’s victory culminated an illustrious film festival where the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Alexander Payne, Alfonso Cuarón, Liv Tyler, Ava DuVernay, Ira Sachs, and Leos Carax graced their presence.

On October 18, the festival headed by Daniela Michel commenced, featuring Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez,” France’s entry for the Oscars. This film received the Cannes Jury Prize and the Best Actress Award, shared among its principal actresses, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Adriana Paz. The latter two attended the 22nd FICM as special guests.

Coppola’s newest work, “Megalopolis,” was showcased in the prestigious gala screenings at the festival, and he received the Artistic Excellence Award from FICM, an honor he has earned five times at the Academy Awards.

Additionally, acclaimed cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, who has been nominated for multiple Oscars, made his directorial debut with “Pedro Páramo,” a Netflix movie based on the literary masterpiece by Juan Rulfo.

Prieto has been nominated for his lens work in Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” and Martin Scorsese’s “Silence,” “The Irishman” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

On October 25th, Alejandro González Iñárritu, laureate of numerous Academy Awards for “Gravity” and “Roma”, concluded the festival with his latest creation, the limited series for AppleTV+ titled “Disclaimer”.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I was thrilled to be part of the FICM, an event that honors and displays the finest Mexican productions of the year. This year’s festival was particularly exciting as it played host to several highly-anticipated titles. Among them were Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist,” Mark Cousins’ documentary “A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things,” Luis Ortega’s “El Jockey,” DuVernay’s “Origin,” Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man,” Pedro Almodóvar’s Golden Lion winner at the Venice Film Festival, “The Room Next Door,” and Sean Baker’s “Anora,” which took home the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. It was truly a cinematic feast for the eyes!

22nd FICM Winners:

Best Mexican Fiction Film

“Sujo,” Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez

Best Director

Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez, “Sujo”

Best Screenplay

Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez, “Sujo”

Best Actor

Andrés Revo, “Fine Young Men” (“Hombres íntegros”)

Best Actress

Diana Laura Di, “Violent Butterflies” (“Violentas mariposas”)

Best Mexican Documentary

“I Died” (“Li cham”), Ana Ts’uyeb

Special Mention for Mexican Documentary

“Cracked” (“La falla”), Alana Simoes

Best Mexican Fiction Short Film

“Spiritum,” Adolfo Margulis

Best Mexican Animated Short Film

“The Black Stain” (“La mancha negra”), Yareni Velázquez Mendoza

Best Mexican Documentary Short Film

“Looking for a Donkey” (“Buscando un burro”), Juan Vicente Manrique

Special Jury Prize

“Renta Imagen: Niño halcón duerme entre visiones de un incendio,” Mauricio Sáenz-Cánovas

Best Michoacan Short Film

“Imprint” (“Impronta”), Rafael Martínez-García

Best Michoacán Short Film Screenplay

“Antesala al primer beso,” Adrián A. González Camargo

2024-10-26 15:17

Mexico’s Oscar Entry ‘Sujo’ Makes a Sweep of the Morelia Film Festival

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