I’m very excited about a press trip I’ll be taking next month, to attend the Los Cabos International Film Festival. The event will bring film industry insiders, government authorities, the general public and the local, national and international media to the sunny shores of Los Cabos from November 11 to 15.
Festival organizers recently announced the films chosen for its fourth edition’s Official Selection, which includes two different sections: Competencia Los Cabos and México Primero. It’s not too late to make travel plans to attend this gala Los Cabos event (click here to buy tickets, and then use the LatinFlyer travel booking engine to search for the best air and hotel deals) — but even if you can’t make it, the selections provide some great ideas for your Netflix list. And of course, stay tuned to LatinFlyer.com, TravelAge West and my various social media channels to stay up to date on the excitement from the film festival.
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Competencia Los Cabos
Competencia Los Cabos is billed as the only section in the world where North American films appear side-by-side. Only films that are from — or co-produced with — Mexico, USA and/or Canada can participate. The Best Film will be awarded with the Competencia Los Cabos Cinemex Prize, a cash prize of $15,000 to the producer.
The nine films in competition are:
• Desde Allá by Lorenzo Vigas (Mexico/Venezuela): Winner of the Golden Lion, highest award in Venice Festival, where it had its worldwide premier.
• Tangerine by Sean Baker (USA): Premiere in Mexico.
This film premiered at Sundance and won prizes at international events such as the London and Palm Springs festivals for the innovative way it was shot, with a singular narrative and using an iPhone 5s.
• Room by Lenny Abrahamson (Canada/Ireland):
This film premiered at Telluride Film Festival and won the People’s Choice Award at Toronto International Film Festival.
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Chronic by Michel Franco (Mexico): This film won the Cannes Palm d’Or for Best Script, with a two-minute standing ovation and a nomination for the Palme d’ Or for Best Film.
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James White by Josh Mond (USA; Premiere in Latin America):
This film premiered and won the Audience Prize at Sundance.
• Les Êtres Chers by Anne Émond (Canada; Premiere in Mexico):
This film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, and was nominated for the Golden Leopard.
• Un Monstruo de Mil Cabezas by Rodrigo Plá (Mexico/France).
This film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and was nominated for the Orizzonti Prize.
• Nasty Baby by Sebastián Silva (USA/Chile): Premiere in Mexico.
This film had its premiere in Sundance, and won the Teddy Prize at Berlinale.
• Sleeping Giant by Andrew Cividino (Canada).
This film was nominated for the Critics Week Grand Prize and Golden Camera award at the Cannes Festival, and won as Best Canadian Film at Toronto International Film Festival.
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México Primero
México Primero aims to recognize and support top-quality Mexican films. The director of the Best Mexican Film will receive the $15,000 México Primero Cinemex prize.
The six competing films are:
• Semana Santa by Alejandra Márquez.
This film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival, receiving excellent critical reviews. Semana Santa will have its Mexican Premiere during Los Cabos Film Festival, and was awarded in 2013 with the Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund development prize and in 2014 with Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund postproduction award of Labodigital services and participated in the Industry Platform, Cabos in Progress.
• Sabrás qué Hacer Conmigo by Katina Medina Mora.
This film will have its world premiere during the Festival and won Cabos in Progress Fox+ Prize in 2014.
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La Caridad by Marcelino Islas.
This film will have its world premiere in Los Cabos and in 2014 participated in Cabos in Progress.
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Las Elegidas by David Pablos.
This film premiered at the Cannes Festival, and was nominated for Un Certain Regard Prize.
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Te Prometo Anarquía by Julio Hernández Cordón.
This film won the International Competition Prize at Locarno Film Festival, was nominated for the Golden Leopard and received the Latin Horizons prize at San Sebastián Film Festival.
• Almacenados by Jack Zagha: This film adaptation of a stage play stars José Carlos Ruiz.
The films in México Primero will also compete for the FIPRESCI Award, the Art Kingdom Award ($12,200), and the FOX+ Award ($40,000).
This year, for the first time, the films in the Official Selection will contend for the Cinemex Audience Award. The audiences at Cinemex Los Cabos-Puerto Paraíso screenings will choose its favorite, and the best film will receive a cash prize of $10,000.
INFO ABOUT LOS CABOS: http://vcabo.com/