LOS ANGLES, California – October 15, 2013 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) – In order to promote the cinema and filmmaking talent of Mexico and Ibero-America, the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG), the University of Guadalajara and the University of Guadalajara Foundation in the U.S. present FICG in LA, a selection of the most outstanding films of 2013’s FICG. FICG in LA will be held at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood November 1-3, 2013.
Featuring outstanding and award-winning titles from FICG28, which ran from March 1-9, 2013, FICG in LA will offer the premiere of other titles that have emerged in the world of cinema throughout the year to great critical acclaim.
The aim of the festival is increasing access and visibility of Mexican and Latin American cinema in the U.S., facilitating the exchange of ideas through stories and issues of cultural and social relevance, creating a space for collaboration between filmmakers and strengthening relationships between the film industry in Mexico and the U.S.
FICG in LA includes film screenings followed by Q&As with filmmakers and talent, as well as galas and special award recognitions to Latin American and U.S. Latino artists.
“It is an honor and a great responsibility to direct FICG in LA and to join the mission of the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) –which is close to its 30th anniversary – whose main purpose is to promote Mexican and Latin American cinema, expand the audience for these films, contribute to the careers of new filmmakers, and to serve as liaison between Latin American cinema and the international film industry ” said Hebe Tabachnik, Director and Producer of FICG in LA, who since 2011 has collaborated as the Guest Programmer for the Maguey Award section, which focuses on films about sexual diversity.
Part of the significance in increasing the presence of FICG in LA is that the state of California has a concentration of 14 million Latinos, of which about 12 million are Mexican or Mexican-American. Of the nearly 5 million residing in metropolitan Los Angeles and Long Beach area, nearly half originate from the State of Jalisco, revealing a strong cultural connection between its capital, Guadalajara, and the city of Los Angeles.
“FICG in LA is a gateway to Latin American cinema in Hollywood and also for Latino filmmakers to forge a relationship with the Guadalajara International Film Festival and claim it as their home,” said Ivan Trujillo, Festival Director of FICG.
Among the celebrities that have accompanied us in previous editions include: Edward James Olmos, Sergio Arau, Diana Bracho, Alfonso Arau, Kate del Castillo, Martha Higareda, Beto Cuevas, Everardo González, Emilio Maille, Dulce Maria, Carmen Salinas and Jay Hernandez.
FICG in LA 2013 marks the beginning of a joint venture with Ambulante, the nonprofit organization founded by Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna and Pablo Cruz, dedicated to supporting documentary filmmaking as an important tool for cultural and social transformation.
Ambulante will present the Los Angeles premiere of the Mexican documentary Quebranto (Disrupt), directed by Roberto Fiesco, who received a Special Jury Award in the Ibero-American Competition and was the winner of theen Maguey Award (FICG28), and more recently the Premio Sebastiane Latino Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. Ambulante will receive a special recognition for its outstanding contribution to promoting documentaries and documentary filmmakers since 2005.
Finally, in light of recent events in Mexico, our work this year wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t join the efforts to assist the communities severely affected by the tropical storms. FICG in LA has decided to donate all ticket sale proceeds to help rebuild these communities in need.
FICG in LA is presented by the Guadalajara International Film Festival, the University of Guadalajara, University of Guadalajara Foundation in the United States, and is supported by the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles. FICG’s institutional sponsors include CONACULTA, the Mexican Film Institute (IMCINE), the Government of the State of Jalisco, Cultura UDG, Channel 44, as well as the municipalities of Guadalajara and Zapopan.
About FICG
The Guadalajara International Film Festival was founded by Guillermo del Toro and other Mexican filmmakers in 1986, and will celebrate its 29th edition March 21-29, 2014.
FICG is the lead film festival in Latin America. It is a forum for the training, education, and creative exchange among industry professionals, film critics, and film students from all over Ibero-America.
About the University of Guadalajara – Mexico
The University of Guadalajara is a member of the University Network in the State of Jalisco, and it is the second oldest university in Mexico. The University of Guadalajara is committed to the betterment of society through higher education. It supports scientific and technological research that makes important contributions to a sustainable and inclusive society, respecting cultural diversity and honoring the principles of social justice, democracy, coexistence, and prosperity for all. The University is renowned in Mexico and abroad as a leader in the transformation of society through innovative means of social development and dissemination of knowledge.
About the Foundation of the University of Guadalajara in the U.S.
The University of Guadalajara Foundation in the United States of America (UDG Foundation-USA) is an extension of Fundación Universidad de Guadalajara, A.C., and is made up of a number of prominent academic and social leaders. The Foundation works to attain private support from individuals, foundations and corporations in order to fulfill the mission and vision of the University of Guadalajara in Los Angeles.
U.S. UDG Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life and social integration of migrants and Hispanic nationals by increasing their access to education and enhancing their sense of belonging and identification with their environment by developing their skills and capabilities through educational services and relevant social research.
About Ambulante
Ambulante A.C., a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna and Pablo Cruz, is dedicated to supporting and promoting documentary film as a tool for social and cultural transformation. Ambulante travels to places where documentary films and training are limited with the purpose of creating engaged, critical and well-informed audiences.
Each year, a documentary film festival travels with the support of CANANA, Cinepolis, and the Morelia International Film Festival, covering several states in Mexico for 3 months, with an international showcase of over 100 documentaries, some 120 special guests, at over 150 venues.
For more information call 310.951.9797 or visit http://www.ficginla.com, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/FICG-in-LA/1427478980805851 and Twitter: https://twitter.com/FICGinLA
