38th Guadalajara International Film Festival Begins with Tribute to Mexican Actress and Italian Editor

Guadalajara (Mexico), Jun 3 (EFE).- With the delivery of tributes to the career of the Mexican actress Arcelia Ramírez and the Italian editor Roberto Perpignani, the 38th edition of the Guadalajara International Film Festival began this Saturday, which this year will be carried out for the first time in the absence of its president, Raúl Padilla López.

From June 3 to 9, the festival will bring together almost 80 short and feature films in the official competition in the Mexican and Ibero-American fiction, documentary, animation, environmental-themed, and LGBTQ+ community-related film sections.

It will also present a selection of films from Italy, the guest of honor country, as well as musical documentaries and special screenings outdoors and at charity galas.

Mexican actress Arcelia Ramírez, who recently starred in the award-winning film “La civil”, was honored with the Mayahuel de Plata Award for her career.

Ramírez asked the authorities to reassess the cultural and social importance of cinema as a counterweight to the violent reality that Mexico is experiencing.

“I deeply wish that this country and its governments strengthen culture in all its forms and diversities, that we fully understand that this is the most effective weapon to fight against violence and barbarism,” he said after receiving the award.

Also, Roberto Perpignani, editor known for his work on films such as “El cartero” and “El último tango en París” received the international Mayahuel Award for a fruitful 60-year career and highlighted the human sense of cinema.

“It is wonderful to see that cinema brings us all together from Italy to here and what is more important is that it is the emotions that unite us because it is the emotions that make cinema have not only a cultural but a human meaning” he declared.

During its inaugural gala, the film “Asteroid City” by American director Wes Anderson was released, prior to its arrival in theaters in the United States on June 16 and after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

The films “Flamin’ Hot: the flavor that changed history”, directed by the actress of Latin origin Eva Longoria and “Hijos de perra” by the American director Josh Greenbaum and “2,000 species of bees”, by the Spanish Estibaliz Urrezola Solaguren will have its premiere at the festival before its release on digital platforms and in theaters.

The three feature films will be part of the Benefit Galas section, whose box office sales will be donated to seven altruistic organizations in Mexico. “2,000 species of bees” is also part of the selection of films in official competition.

The Italian director, Paolo Genovese and the actress and producer Karla Souza will offer keynote speeches for the student community and professionals who attend the festival.