A WINDOW INTO MEXICAN CINEMA IN LOS ANGELES

Showcase event featuring seven films and a documentary gets underway

The Mexican Cinema Showcase: A Selection from the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) opened on Thursday, September 8 in Los Angeles. This event aspires to give filmmakers, producers, actors and moviegoers in this American city a window into the world of Mexican cinema.

Igor Lozada, director of Outreach and Cultural Promotion for the University of Guadalajara's Center of Arts, Architecture and Design, said that the event is not intended to be a Latino film festival or competition, since there are already two events in the city with similar characteristics.

"In principle, it's a very important window for filmmakers because everybody knows that Hollywood is the epicenter of the worldwide film entertainment industry," he said.

"Actors such as Diego Luna and Demian Bichir and many others are looking more and more to Los Angeles because of the great opportunities that are opening up for Latin American art. In this regard, the event is an important opportunity for exposure. It also enjoys the support of FICG, one of the most important film festivals in Latin America".

Lozada underscored the very close relationship UDG has developed with the city's film community through events such as the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and the Latino Film Festival.

The Mexican Cinema Showcase kicked off with the showing of Tequila, historia de una pasión. Another six films are slated for screening in the Egyptian Theatre, located in the heart of Hollywood.

Also scheduled are a panel discussion with members of the film industry and a special tribute. The event concludes on September 14 with the presentation of the documentary The Harvest. (La cosecha) at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.

Regarding public response to the event, Lozada said that four years of work to promote culture from Mexico and Jalisco in Los Angeles, including the LéaLA book fair, have made people hungry for more activities. Not surprisingly, he expects around 90% of the event's seating capacity to be filled.

This initiative, sponsored by the University of Guadalajara through the University of Guadalajara Foundation's headquarters in Los Angeles and FICG, is also being supported by a number of other institutions and sponsors.