The Monterrey International Film Festival in Mexico marks a landmark 20th edition with inaugural industry programs, a robust lineup and new team members in an effort to further enhance its international profile. The event will be held from September 25 to October 2 in Parque Fundidora, Monterrey, with two new programs, WIP and ProMeetings, leading the industrial section.
Festival board chair Lorena Villarreal will lead the festival, which will highlight a selection of world-class films from top festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Tribeca and Sundance. “The festival is also expanding its industry footprint to establish itself as a bridge between the US, Iberoamerica and Mexico, while supporting our local industry in Nuevo Leon with more programs and notable guests and honorees to be announced very soon,” she said, listing the like “Bird” by Andrea Arnold; Agathe Riedinger’s debut film “Wild Diamond,” which had its world premiere at Cannes; the Sundance-winning documentary “Sugarcane” by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie and “Another End” by Piero Messina.
Building on last year’s expansion plans, the fest has strengthened its team with the recent hiring of Diana Cobos as General Manager and LA-based Mexican producer Eva Ruiz de Chávez as Industry Manager, succeeding Diana Cadavid.
Abraham González continues as head of programming and Álvar Carretero as head of International PR & Talent.
“This year we are not only remembering our past, but also steering the festival into a future full of fresh, innovative and daring voices. Our mission is to elevate new perspectives, who are not young because of their age, but because of their critical and daring story,” said Cobos, who added: “The youthful energy of Nuevo León is reflected in both our programming as the overall personality of the festival.”
Given the city’s robust student population, the second largest after the capital, the festival’s audience is predominantly young, about 52%, Cobos said. Variety. “This makes the award for Best Student Short Film even more important,” she said, adding that the fest planned to host educational activities this year and next. The city has five major universities and other educational institutions, many of which are connected to the festival.
Programming head González will oversee the curation of some 70 titles in the festival’s full lineup, which will be announced on August 15. There are eight competitive categories, ranging from international and Mexican feature films, documentaries and short films to one reserved for photographs taken in Monterrey’s Nuevo region. Leon.
Wild diamond
Courtesy of the Monterrey Film Festival
Arnold’s “Bird” opens Monterrey while Messina’s “Another End” closes it. Both make their Latin American premiere.
Other major titles making their Mexican premieres during the fest include Cannes’ Un sure Regard entry “Dog on Trial” from Laetitia Dosch, Tribeca Documentary winner “Witches” from Elizabeth Sankey and the Barry Keoghan-led thriller “Bring Them Down” by Chris Andrews.
The festival is launching a new section called Monterrey Classics, which will showcase iconic international and Mexican films led by Wim Wenders’ ‘Paris, Texas’, which was digitally restored this year at L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna. “This version premiered as part of Cannes Classics on May 24, 2024, and we are thrilled to have its Mexican premiere at the festival,” said González.
With the inaugural Work in Progress (WIP Monterrey) and ProMeetings programs, the festival’s emerging industry section aims to serve as a conduit between the entertainment industries in the US, Mexico and Iberoamerica.
Some companies have already signed up as prize sponsors, led by Mexico’s Estudios Churubusco, which is presenting the main post-production prize together with Latin American one-stop-shop Labo. Mandarina Cine will present the Mexican distribution award, while Hasan Estudio will present the sound mixing award. More prizes will be revealed in the coming days.
“This year we not only celebrate innovation and creative diversity in cinema, but also strengthen our commitment to the sustainable growth of Nuevo León’s film industry and, by extension, the Mexican industry,” said Ruiz de Chávez, adding adds: “It is so important to build cultural bridges.”
“As American Latino creatives face increasing challenges at home, where budgets are shrinking and fewer shows are being greenlit, they need to be made aware of the incentives and opportunities Latin America has to offer,” she noted.
WIP Monterrey supports films in post-production from first- and second-time filmmakers that explore themes of representation, diversity and social issues. The program provides comprehensive post-production, distribution and marketing support, with the submission window open from July 15 to August 15. So far they have received about twenty entries, of which at least six will be chosen.
ProMeetings, scheduled for September 26-29, offers networking and co-production opportunities for projects in development. So far they have received up to 50 entries, says Ruiz de Chavez, who is enthusiastic about the level of projects.
Seven feature films and seven series will be selected to be presented to producers, distributors and financiers around the world. They will also compete for various prizes aimed at their international spread and development.
Backed by substantial contributions from state, local and private sources, along with some federal funding, the festival seeks to establish itself as Mexico’s premier international film festival and a major creative center in the country.
Indeed, as the business and industrial center of Nuevo León, Monterrey benefits from the highest per capita income in Mexico, further increasing its potential.
Key allies and sponsors for the 20th edition include the Secretaría de Cultura del Gobierno de México, Secretaría de Cultura de Nuevo León, Secretaría de Turismo de Nuevo León, Embassy of France in Mexico, LVT, Barraca, Canacine Nuevo León, Cinépolis, Parque Fundidora, Grupo Milenio, Publimetro, Sigma and the most important universities in the region: TEC de Monterrey, UDEM, UANL and UNICA.
Dog on trial
Courtesy of the Monterrey Film Festival