Celebrities have been visiting Acapulco for decades. But the latest group of stars to descend on Mexico’s original jet-set vacation destination were Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, all of whom attended the 8th Annual Acapulco International Film Festival, which took place a couple weeks ago.
Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith inaugurated the Festival by receiving the Silver Jaguar Award at the opening night gala from the governor of the State of Guerrero, Angel Aguirre Rivero. Banderas acknowledged the state’s efforts to promote tourism and the revitalization of Acapulco. The Zorro star assured that he is planning to visit Acapulco again with his family in the near future.
Salma Hayek reportedly stunned guests with her appearance at the closing ceremony and red carpet event. Hayek, who was born in the Mexican state of Veracruz, recalled visiting Acapulco numerous times in her youth.
The festival included screenings of more than 70 domestic and international films, as well as galas and red carpet events. Events were held in several locations in Acapulco including the San Diego Fort, Hotel Elcano, Mundo Imperial and La Isla Shopping Village, among others.
Since the middle of the 20th century, Acapulco has lured celebrities for both vacations and movie filming. I’ve reported on various aspects of Acapulco’s star-studded connections, including:
• Acapulco’s role in James Bond movies
• Jennifer Lopez’s recent use of Acapulco for an action-packed music video
• Acapulco as a stand-in for a fictional destination, in a star-filled movie
For more info about Acapulco, visit the official site: www.rememberacapulco.com.