Mexicoâs official entry to the Oscars, âSujo,â was the big winner at the 22nd Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), taking home the prestigious Ojo Awards for Best Film, Director, and Screenplay. Co-directed and written by Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez, the duo behind the acclaimed film âIdentifying Features,â âSujoâ also impressed audiences at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema.
Described by Variety as a refreshing departure from the typical violent drug war movies, âSujoâ tells the poignant coming-of-age story of a young boy named Sujo, portrayed by Kevin Uriel Aguilar Luna and Juan JesĂșs Varela, who grapples with the influence of drug cartels in his community. After his father, a hired assassin, is killed, Sujo becomes a target himself, but his courageous aunt steps in to protect him.
The success of âSujoâ at FICM was just one highlight of the star-studded festival, which attracted industry heavyweights like Francis Ford Coppola, Alfonso CuarĂłn, Ava DuVernay, and more. The event kicked off with the screening of Franceâs Oscar submission, âEmilia PĂ©rez,â directed by Jacques Audiard and featuring a stellar cast led by Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez.
Legendary filmmaker Coppola was honored with the Artistic Excellence Award at FICM, while cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto showcased his directorial debut, âPedro PĂĄramo,â a film adaptation of Juan Rulfoâs classic novel. Prieto, known for his work on acclaimed films like âBrokeback Mountainâ and âThe Irishman,â received praise for his directorial efforts.
Closing the festival on a high note was CuarĂłn, who presented his latest project, the AppleTV+ limited series âDisclaimer.â The festival also featured Mexican premieres of notable films such as âThe Brutalistâ by Brady Corbet, âA Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Thingsâ by Mark Cousins, and âEl Jockeyâ by Luis Ortega.
Among the winners at the 22nd FICM were AndrĂ©s Revo for Best Actor in âFine Young Men,â Diana Laura Di for Best Actress in âViolent Butterflies,â and Ana Tsâuyeb for Best Mexican Documentary with âI Died.â Special mentions were also given to films like âCrackedâ by Alana Simoes and âRenta Imagen: Niño halcĂłn duerme entre visiones de un incendioâ by Mauricio SĂĄenz-CĂĄnovas.
Overall, the 22nd FICM was a celebration of Mexican cinema, showcasing the best works of the year and honoring talented filmmakers and actors. The festival highlighted the diversity and creativity of Mexican cinema, solidifying its reputation as a hub for groundbreaking storytelling and artistic innovation.
 
					
 
			 
                                 
                             