Mexico's premiere film event, the Guadalajara Mexican Film Showcase, kicks off next week despite the resignation of its newly-appointed director Enrique Ortiga, who never even got a chance to manage the event once.

Deputy director Kenya Marquez Alkadef stepped in to replace Ortiga, who left amidst claims that he had neglected the event for his duties as marketing director of Titan Prods, co-producer Mexican blockbuster Sexo, Pudor Y Lagrimas.

Nevertheless, programming is to continue as scheduled, with titles such as local boy Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone (El Espinazo Del Diablo) representing the cream of Mexican cinema. Amongst the Mexican films of potential interest to overseas buyers is Nicolas Echevarria's Vivir Mata, which has been among the ten highest grossing films in Mexico for several weeks. Also screening in the official section is Eva Lopez Sanchez's De Que Lado Estas', which played in Berlin this year.

Argentine Best Foreign Oscar nominee El Hijo De La Novia opened proceedings on Friday, while Sin Verguenza, by Spanish director Joaquin Oristrell, closes the event. Sidebars include Women & Film in Latin America and a homage to Spanish director Montxo Armendariz whose Secretos Del Corazon was nominated for a Best Foreign Oscar in 1997