Film Festivals and Online Video Contests: News Bytes

(Tucson, AZ) -- The annual Tucson Cine Mexico returns February 29-March 4, 2012 to celebrate contemporary Mexican cinema with award winning films and more special guests than ever. The University of Arizona’s Hanson Film Institute and The Consulate of Mexico in Tucson are proud to present this next installment of Tucson Cine Mexico taking place at several locations around Tucson.

Tucson Cine Mexico is the premiere film festival in the US focusing on the work of Mexican directors. This year’s festival features a mix of award-winning narrative feature and short films and feature documentaries. All screenings are Arizona premieres.

Vicky Westover, Tucson Cine Mexico director says, “We are delighted that 20th Century Fox International is providing us with the opportunity to present the Arizona premiere of the ultra chic spellbinder Miss Bala on the big screen in Tucson before the film’s dvd release.” Vicky adds, “And we are excited that the movie’s lead actress Stephanie Sigman will be with us for a post screening interview on stage and Q&A with the audience.”

Miss Bala was produced by Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, and Pablo Cruz and is Mexico’s submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. The movie will be introduced by Julian Levin, CEO of the Mexican production company Canana Films. The movie will be screened at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 7p.m., and the interview and Q &A with Ms. Sigman will follow the screening.

This year Tucson Cine Mexico also presents a special focus on Mexican women directors and continues its partnership with the Mexican based Ambulante Traveling Documentary Film Festival. The director of Ambulante, Elena Fortes, will present three critically acclaimed documentary features in this year’s festival. The “Shorts Program: Directed By Women” will be presented at the Tucson Museum of Art on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 7pm and will include a discussion with guests Carlos Gutierrez, director of the New York based Cinema Tropical; Elena Fortes, and four feature filmmakers with films in this year’s festival: Yareli Arizmendi, Viviana Besne, Trisha Ziff, and Yulene Olaizola.

All screenings and events are free and open to the public and will take place Wednesday, February 29 through Sunday, March 4, 2012. Screenings will be held on the UA campus, at Harkins Tucson Spectrum Theatres, at the Fox Tucson Theatre, and at the Tucson Museum of Art. Sponsors of Tucson Cine Mexico are Cox, Harkins Theatres, and Providence Services Corporation.

“Tucson Cine Mexico not only showcases Mexican premieres but it opens itself to the public like no other event by offering all screenings for free,” said Juan Manuel Calderon-Jaimes, Consul of Mexico in Tucson and co-presenter of Tucson Cine Mexico. He adds, “Until the fifties, people were able to enjoy Mexican cinema in Tucson. Thanks to the festival, we have revitalized that tradition. We should not underestimate how art fosters dialogue between cultures. In this respect, Tucson Cine Mexico allows the community to understand a rich facet of our country, Arizona’s neighbor and most important international partner. We are grateful to the Hanson Film Institute for taking the lead in this initiative.”

Tucson Cine Mexico is produced with support from the Tucson Film Office, UA’s Western Hemispheric Programs, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, the Center for Latin American Studies, the UA College of Fine Arts, the Fox Tucson Theatre, and the Tucson Museum of Art. Further support comes from the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mexican Foreign Ministry, and Mexican Film Institute.

A complete guide to Tucson Cine Mexico 2012 can be found at TucsonCineMexico.org. All films are in Spanish with English subtitles.

Screenings venues: Harkins Theatres Tucson Spectrum 18, located at 5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz (www.harkinstheatres.com), The Fox Tucson Theatre, located at 17 West Congress Street (www.foxtucsontheatre.org), and the Tucson Museum of Art, located at 140 North Main Avenue (www.tucsonmuseumofart.org).

The Hanson Film Institute at The University of Arizona offers programs for students, emerging filmmakers, and media entrepreneurs who want to contribute significantly to the art and/or business of filmmaking and have an influential role in the film industry. Serving diverse, underrepresented, and new voices, the Hanson Film Institute creates and advances a dynamic understanding of the collaborative dimensions of the art and business of film. The Hanson Film Institute provides and supports educational programs, public events, and creative projects.

The Institute operates under the auspices of The University of Arizona College of Fine Arts and works in partnership with the School of Theatre, Film & Television. The Institute collaborates with interested divisions at The University and with diverse community organizations.





Resources:

www.TucsonCineMexico.org