Big Attendance Numbers at the 40th Guadalajara Film Festival

Mexico’s most prominent film festival, the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) lived up to its renown, scoring massive attendance for its milestone 40^th edition, which wrapped June 14.

Led by festival director Estrella Araiza, the annual film event in Mexico’s second largest city reported 29,599 screening admissions, 7,209 participants in masterclasses and panels, and 1,473 accredited guests and industry professionals. Its inauguration fiesta alone, which featured live music and Lucha Libre, is said to have lured up to 3,500 attendees.

With the new genre cinema sidebar this year, won by Germán Tejada’s “The Innocents,” the festival marked 10 competitive sections. The Iberoamerican section was dominated by Brazil, with Best Fiction Film going to Gabriel Mascaro’s Berlin Special Jury prizewinner “The Blue Trail” and Anna Muylaert’s “The Best Mother in the World,” winning Best Screenplay, Cinematography and Performance for lead Shirley Cruz. The latter, sold worldwide by The Match Factory, won at Sundance and Berlin and highlights the vast wealth gap in Brazil.

Spain’s Eva Libertad took home Best Director for her lauded drama “Deaf,” which was awarded the Latin American Critics’ Award for European Films on June 10.

Among the Iberoamerican documentaries in contention, Albert Serra won Best Ibero-American Documentary for his doc about Peruvian bullfighter Andres Roca Rey, “Afternoons of Solitude” (“Tardes de soledad”), winner of the Best Film Golden Shell at the 72nd San Sebastian Film Fest in Spain.

The Premio Mezcal Award, which recognizes Mexican films, went to Indira Cato’s “To Be Named Olimpia” for Best Feature while Victoria Franco’s “Old Mouth” grabbed Best Direction and Cinematography. Emiliano Zurita was recognized for his performance in “Wheels, Weed & Rock ‘n’ Roll” by José Manuel Cravioto, which Cinepolis plans to release in more than 500 screens nationwide on Sept. 11, given its enthusiastic reception at FICG that included an outdoor screening.

The giant Morelia-based exhibitor-distributor is also releasing the festival’s opening night film, Mexico’s first stop motion animated feature “I Am Frankelda,” in more than 500 screens in the Autumn, most likely close to the Day of the Dead/Halloween festivities. The film was simmilarly a big hit at Annecy, the world’s top animation festival, which overlapped with this year’s FICG last week.

Daniela Vega, Maria de Medeiros, Carlos Cortés, Cristo Fernández, Victoria Franco, Ana de la Reguera, Andrés Zuno and João Gonzalez were among the luminaries to grace the Closing Night ceremony.

De Medeiros, leading the delegation from this year’s Country of Honor, Portugal, was presented with the Mayahuel Award by Araiza. Speaking in flawless Spanish, she said: “To be here, with so many Portuguese films showcasing our cinematic history, is truly wonderful. I believe there is a genuine connection between our cultures—a positive energy, a dialogue that this Festival will surely help deepen even further.”

Meanwhile, Made in Jalisco contender “Abracadáver” by Pancho Rodríguez scored the Opening Night berth in the Puerto Vallarta Film Festival. Comedy thriller, that saw more screenings added at FICG, is produced by Buenos Aires-based FilmSharks and Rodriguez’ Alba Films. It’s been released by Disney in the U.S. where it’s already streaming on Hulu. Talks with Latin American distributors are still ongoing, said FilmSharks’ Guido Rud. In it, three magician brothers reunite from the circus world for one last impossible heist: stealing a priceless twin mummy from an impenetrable fortress to save their family legacy.

The festival’s industry program, led by Ximena Urrutia, saw scores of in-kind awards spread out among the participants, with some, like Isidoro Sarfati’s “Beast” (“El Bestia”) scoring five awards in the Co-Production section. Produced by Carolina Amador and Isidoro Sarfati of Bamba Films, “Beast” follows boxer Gama whose delusions of grandeur, a ruthless trainer and struggles with his inner demons transform him into “El Bestia.” Tender cross-border drama “This Bolero is for Ita” in the Co-Production program captivated several sponsors, winning four in-kind awards.

Highlights of this edition included Benefit Galas with directors like Julio Medem (“8”) and pop icon Denisse Guerrero (“Murió la fantasia,” Maguey Career Award). Audiences were also drawn to masterclasses by industry greats led by J.A. Bayona, Eugenio Caballero, Mónica Lozano (Mayahuel Industry Tribute), Daniela Vega (Maguey Queer Icon) and Dolores Heredia (Mayahuel de Plata).

Bayona, on accepting his career tribute, said Guadalajara held a special place in his heart: “It was here where I presented my first short 25 years ago.”

In other news, Carolina Revilla Casillas was announced as the recipient of the 2025 Jenkins–Del Toro Scholarship during FICG. She brings two years of experience in animated series, which feature some stop-motion animation, along with an independent short film.

Since 2019, the Jenkins-Del Toro Scholarship, launched by Guadalajara native Guillermo del Toro and the Jenkins Foundation, has awarded $60,000 annually to support undergraduate or graduate film studies. Fully funded by the Jenkins Foundation, it covers tuition, housing, living expenses, health and life insurance, and a fixed amount for books and study materials.

FICG ran from June 6-14.

FICG 2025 Winners:

Mezcal Award
Best Mexican Feature Film: “To Be Named Olimpia,” Indira Cato
Honorable Mention: “Old Mouth,” Yovegami Ascona Mora
Best Direction: “Twelve Moons,” Victoría Franco
Best Cinematography: “Twelve Moons,” Sergio Armstrong
Best Performance: Emiliano Zurita for “Wheels, Weed & Rock ‘n’ Roll,” José Manuel Cravioto
Audience Award: “Old Mouth,” Yovegami Ascona Mora

Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film
Best Ibero-American Fiction Film: “The Blue Trail” (“O último azul”), Gabriel Mascaro
Best Debut Feature: “Away” (“Molt Lluny”), Gerard Oms
Best Direction: “Deaf” (“Sorda”), Eva Libertad
Best Screenplay: “The Best Mother in the World,” Anna Muylaert
Best Cinematography: “The Best Mother in the World,” Lílis Soares
Best Performance: Shirley Cruz for “The Best Mother in the World,” Anna Muylaert

Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film
Best Ibero-American Documentary: “Afternoons of Solitude” (“Tardes de soledad”), Albert Serra
Best Direction: “Light Memories” (“Eco de luz”), Misha Vallejo Prut
Best Cinematography: “The Flamenco Guitar of Yerai Cortés,” Oriol Barcelona, Nauzet Gaspar, Àlvar Riu, Diego Trenas and Arnau Valls Colomer

Maguey Award
Best Film: “Sabar Bonda,” Rohan Parashuram Kanawade
Honorable Mention: “Away” (“Molt Lluny”), Gerard Oms
Jury Maguey Award: “Lesbian Space Princess,” Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs
Jury Maguey Award (Honorable Mention): “Newborn” (Un mundo para mi”), Alejandro Zuno
Best Performance: Denise Weinberg for “The Blue Trail,” Gabriel Mascaro

International Animated Feature Film
Best Animated Feature: “Olivia & the Clouds” by Tomás Pichardo Espaillat
Honorable Mention: “Endless Cookie” by Seth Scriver and Peter Scriver

Made in Jalisco
Best Jaliscan Feature Film: “No, Thanks, I Don’t Smoke Anymore,” Diego Toussaint
Honorable Mention: “The Daughters of the Wind,” José Camacho Cabrera
Best Jaliscan Short Film: “The Fly on the Wall,” Mar Novo
Honorable Mention: “See You Soon,” Jennifer Skarbnik López

Socio-Environmental Film Award
Best Socio-Environmental Film: “The Mountain Won’t Move,” Petra Seliškar

Genre Cinema
Best Film: “The Innocents” by Germán Tejada

Ibero-American Short Film
Best Short Film: “The Voices from the Cliff,” Irving Serrano and Victor Rejón
Honorable Mention: “From Sucre,” Clàudia Cedó

Rigo Mora Award
Best Animated Short Film: “Devil Light,” Gervasio Canda, Patricio Plaza, and Paula Boffo
Honorable Mention: “Retirement Plan,” John Kelly

Young Jury Award
Best Mexican Film: “Old Mouth,” Yovegami Ascona Mora

FEISAL
Best Film: “Jackal Yard,” Diego Figueroa

FIPRESCI
Best Film: “At the End of the World,” Abraham Escobedo-Salas