Oaxaca FilmFest returns for its ninth edition with an impressive program of Mexican and international films. The seven day festival will take place in Oaxaca City from October 5-11.
Films from diverse countries including Mexico, Croatia, Venezuela, Germany, New Zealand, Afghanistan, the USA, Norway, China, Australia and Ireland make up the Official Selection and will compete in the following six categories: Global, Global Script Challenge, Power Docs, Life is Short, Hecho en México and Emergence. You can see the full selection here.
Highlights with a local connection include: “Xhu” Aarón Sánchez’s film about the earthquake that rocked the Istmo of Tehuántepec last year; “Tiempo de Lluvia” by Mexico’s Itandehui Jansen, “Ni Tú Ni Yo”, Noé Santillán-López’s film about two brothers and their lucha libre careers, and “Tierra de Mezcales” a film by Daniel Mendoza that follows four palenqueros from Villa de Sola de Vega and explores their views on the mezcal production crisis.
Other standouts include:
Influencia | Pablo Aura | México (Emergence)
Walden Life in the Woods | Alex Harvey | United States (Global)
Ni Tú Ni Yo | México | (Global)
Birdhouse | Sima Jafari | United States (Experimental)
Oaxaca FilmFest aims to create an inclusive environment, bridging the gap between the local community and the film industry and this can be seen in their commitment to the Children’s Program and the Intercambio Academia, both of which are designed to reach new audiences and encourage and develop a new generation of filmmakers.
High profile films will be shown throughout the festival as part of the Foundation Nights series and 100% of proceeds from these screenings will go to a selection of local charities including Libros para Pueblos, MC Casa de Luz y Descanso para niños con cancer, Fundación Oaxaqueña de Equinoterapía, Fondo Guadalupe Musalem, Coral, A.C., and Fundación Comunitaria. Check the program for details.
This year’s New Industry program includes the Make it Reel conference series, Pitchfest and a series of Roundtable discussions.
Films will be screened at a variety of locations around the city including the Palacio Municipal, Cinepolis, Teatro Juárez, and MUPAL. All events will be bilingual and films will be shown in their original language with subtitles in English and/or Spanish as required.
Entrance to all events is free, with the exception of screenings at Cinépolis and Foundation Nights.
Many of the screenings will feature the presence of directors and actors however if you’d like another opportunity to get up close and personal with the participants of this year’s festival don’t miss the official fiesta at Txalaparta on Tuesday, October 9th. Entry is free.
This year’s festival has been simplified to focus more on the participants’ and visitors’ experiences. Aside from a stripped-down festival that is more focused on it’s core it also means that there is no social media presence this year. For more information and to download the full program visit the official Oaxaca FilmFest website.
