Alonso Ruizpalacios’ acclaimed film prevailed as the Los Cabos International Film Festival came to a close at the weekend.

The awards were part of a flurry of events at the Mexican festival, which ran from November 12-16 and closed with the Mexican premiere of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood attended by stars Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater.

In other developments producer Monica Lozano announced the launch of Alebrije Distribucion, Media Luna took world rights to Alexander Katzowicz’s Internet Junkie and BH5 Group boarded Ruizpalacios’ Museo that participated in the first Mexico-USA-Canada SPLENDOR OMNIA – MANTArrava Co-Production Forum.

New York producer Dodgeville Films will join Varios Lobos in Mexico to produce Fernando Frias’ second film I’m No Longer Here (Ya No Estoy Aquí), one of the recipients of a $5,000 Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund grant. Spain’s Sin Un Duro and Noodles Prods have come on to co-produce another Gabriel Figueroa grant-winner, Chema Rodríguez’s Seven Hours (Siete Horas).

Earlier in the festival XYZ Films closed a deal with CineTren to handle Latin American distribution on Spring by directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, while Mark Kassen came on to direct Criminal Empire For Dummies and will produce with James Gibb of Cutting Edge Group and Greg Hajdarowicz of Gremi Films.

Arturo Gonzalez’s Llevate Mis Amores won the Mexico First strand and a $15,000 cash prize, while Ruizpalacios’ Güeros prevailed in the $15,000 Los Cabos Competition.

The second Work In Progress Mexico prize and $10,000 went to Los Herederos by Jorge Hernandez and Frances Bodom’s Afronauts claimed the first Mexico-USA-Canada Co-Production Forum award.

In its second year the México Premiero: FOX+ programme organisers selected Isaac Ezban’s El Incidente for a Latin American and Caribbean distribution deal excluding Brazil.

The second annual Work In Progress México FOX+ bestowed the same privilege on Katina Medina Mora’s Sabras Que Hacer Conmigo, while the first Work In Progress – Chemistry awards supported by the Chemistry post-production lab awarded $45,000 in colour correction services to Los Herederos.

As previously announced, Atom Egoyan received a tribute.

Topics