Video Contests, Film Festivals, and Awards

(MEXICO CITY) Crowds gathered in eager anticipation to greet Gael Garcia Bernal upon arrival at the Morelia International Film Festival, which took place from October 15-23. The Mexican actor and director was a dominant force at the festival, presenting two films: "The Loneliest Planet," as well as his four-part documentary "The Invisibles," which he co-directed with Marc Silver. MexicoToday was in Morelia and nearby Patzcuaro for the events, and spoke exclusively with both Garcia Bernal and Julia Lotkev, director of The Loneliest Planet.

Lotkev spoke with MexicoToday from the red carpet of the film's showing, and talked about what she has enjoyed about Mexico, its culture and its cinema. "It's an amazing festival," she exclaimed. "Really exciting as a viewer, and fantastic to be here as a director."

After the movie's screening, Lotkev and Garcia Bernal discussed The Loneliest Planet with MexicoToday and other journalists. Among other topics, the two expounded the differences between filmmaking in the U.S. and Mexico, as well as other parts of the world. Garcia Bernal expressed his appreciation for cinema in Latin American countries, saying that he felt lucky for the significant government assistance channeled into filmmaking.

The two also discussed Garcia Bernal's ever-evolving presence in Mexican cinema. After getting his start on soap operas, the actor went on to star in some of Mexico's most celebrated films, including "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and "El crimen del padre amaro." Throughout his career, he has continually diversified his roles and taken on new challenges.

"Gael is amazing," Lotkev told MexicoToday. "When you're working with him he's so humble. He's just an actor doing his work, amazingly." She went on to discuss his transformation as an actor, moving from youthful adolescent roles to more mature and multifaceted characters. She said that this evolution was a driving factor in why she sought him out to star in The Loneliest Planet. She explained that she was looking for someone similar to how she imagined the character – very comfortable with his masculinity, yet relaxed and sensitive at the same time.

The two went on to discuss various aspects of cinema, Garcia Bernal's aspirations to continue directing – the side of filmmaking that he finds the most enjoyable, and what it was like filming in Georgia for The Loneliest Planet. Garcia Bernal described the parallels between different cultures that he has witnessed through filming, noting that even in Georgia, which is so different than Mexico in many ways, they serve rice and beans for dinner.

Not only was Garcia Bernal presenting two films at Morelia, but he was also being honored with the prestigious Jose Cuervo Award, given annually to an outstanding figure in Mexican cinema. MexicoToday had the opportunity to speak with him as he was presented with the award.

When asked what message about Mexico he most wanted to relay to people abroad, he said that he would encourage people to go and experience it for themselves. "I would tell them come to Mexico!" he concluded, "I know a lot of people that, thanks to the movie "Y Tu Mama Tambien," now take vacations on the coast of Oaxaca. That's the message that I would tell people: that you have to see it in person and experience it!"

Marca Pais - Imagen de Mexico is an initiative to help promote a positive image of Mexico as a global business partner and an unrivaled tourist destination abroad.

Resources:

Marca Pais – Imagen de Mexico

http://www.moreliafilmfest.com/en/