Today we spoke to Nina Rodriguez, Programmer of the
16th GUANAJUATO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
DEADLINE • 1 May 2013
Every year we introduce something new and this year we are beginning a new residency program to help filmmakers get their films made, both from the region and internationally. We are trying to help filmmakers get feedback and develop their own projects. During the festival we will launch the opening for projects and then from December on, filmmakers can come here and stay for projects for 1,3 or 5 months.
Last year was the first time we really established monetary awards in all categories and we definitely want to do that again. For the third year we are Oscar nominating for the short film categories and will also have an International Feature Debut competition again.
The festival is known for its massive student audiences that are all really excited. Mexico is a bit like Japan in that way, the people are really enthusiastic! Basically what we try to do is get everyone together: from filmmakers who have just started making movies to people excited about watching movies. We have screenings from 10am to 4am and we don’t really separate people; of course there are industry meetings but we try to be open and accessible. The Mexican thing helps with that – and the sun of course.
In Mexico there is Guadalajara which is a great industry event and is more the traditional film festival but it was not really freeing people, so, from the beginning we wanted to involve all people to make films, to come and share new ideas. Last year we received over three thousand films from 109 countries and this year it looks to be more.
The festival is 5 days in San Miguel de Allende and 5 days in Guanajuato and I don’t know another festival that does that. The cities are really different: here in San Miguel it is more quiet, smaller and older with beautiful traditional Mexican UNESCO world heritage sites. Then Guanajuato is more a university city with a lot more young people and more parties. All the industry events take place there. Basically this allows our gusts to get to know each other here and really are brought together to celebrate there.
Nina Rodriguez, Director of Programming, Guanajuato International Film Festival to FilmFestivalLife, 16 April 2013
19 – 28 July 2013, San Miguel de Allende & Guanajuato, Mexico
Guanajuato on FilmFestivalLife
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