Morelia International Film Festival

The Morelia International Film Festival (Spanish: Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia; FICM) was founded in 2003 in the city of Morelia, Michoacán, México. It is an annual event that takes place during the second week of October.

FICM emerged as a need to create a unique meeting point in México for the cinematographic community, the people of Michoacán, and international filmmakers. The festival's goal is to establish a forum to promote up-and-coming Mexican cinema talents, to create incentives and cultural opportunities for the Mexican and international public, and to display the cultural richness of the state of Michoacán.[1]

The festival has achieved notable prestige and prominence in Mexico as a result of its outreach and growth. It is rapidly becoming known in other parts of the world for its uniqueness and quality.

Award winners (Best Mexican Film)

Year Film Director
2021 50 o dos ballenas se encuentran en la playa Jorge Alberto Cuchí Espada
2020 Sin señas particulares Fernanda Valadez
2019 Ya No Estoy Aquí Fernando Frías *
2018 La Camarista Lila Avilés
2017 Oso Polar Marcelo Tobar
2016 El Vigilante Diego Ros
2015 Yo Matías Meyer
2014 Carmín tropical Rigoberto Perezcano
2013 Workers José Luis Valle
2012 No Quiero Dormir Sola Natalia Beristain
2011 El Premio Paula Markovitch
2010 Las Marimbas del Infierno Julio Hernández Cordón
2010 Tierra Madre Dylan Verrechia
2009 Alamar Pedro González Rubio
2008 ¿Dónde Están Sus Historias? Nicolás Pereda
2003 Niños de la Calle Eva Aridjis

Special Guests

Notable jury presidents have included Ava DuVernay (2025), Alexander Payne (2024), Rodrigo Prieto (2023), Paweł Pawlikowski (2022), Volker Schlöndorff (2021), John Bailey (2020), Lila Avilés (2019), and Lynne Ramsay (2018).[2]

Notable jury members have included Pablo Berger, David Linde, Andrea Pallaoro.[3]

Other notable guests such as Olivier Assayas, Javier Bardem, Demián Bichir, Alfonso Cuarón, Geraldine Chaplin, Amat Escalante, Stephen Frears, Gael García Bernal, Terry Gilliam, Michel Gondry, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Salma Hayek, Todd Haynes, Werner Herzog, James Ivory, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Abbas Kiarostami, Pablo Larraín, Jennifer Lawrence, Tommy Lee Jones, Diego Luna, Julia Ormond, Marisa Paredes, Sally Potter, Edgar Ramírez, Carlos Reygadas, Robert Rodriguez, Volker Schlöndorff, Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, Béla Tarr, Guillermo del Toro, Danny Trejo and Gus Van Sant among others.

Accolades

Artistic Excellence Award

In 2018, the festival presented the inaugural lifetime Artistic Excellence Award to director Alfonso Cuarón prior to a screening of his landmark film Roma. In 2019, the award was presented to Robert Redford.[4]

Michoacán Tribute

Every year, FICM honors an important figure of Mexican cinema from the state of Michoacán. In previous years, the festival has paid tribute to the filmmakers Miguel Contreras, Fernando Méndeza and the Alva brothers; the cinematographers Ezequiel Carrasco and José Ortiz Ramos; the actors Julio Alemán and Damián Alcázar; and the actresses Stella Inda and Lilia Prado.

Critics’ Week

Since i2003, FICM has had an established partnership with the Critics’ Week of the Cannes Film Festival to promote Mexican filmmakers such as Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, Guillermo del Toro and Fernando Eimbcke. A selection of films from the Critics’ Week is presented each year at FICM with the presence of some of their participants. Likewise, the Critics’ Week shows some of winning films from FICM.

Academy Awards

Since 2008, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) of the United States officially recognized FICM by offering the winning fiction, documentary and animation short films at Morelia the opportunity to be considered for an Oscar® nomination.[9]

Parallel Activities

Once the activities in Morelia have ended, the festival presents the winning short films, documentaries and feature films and a selection of films shown outside of competition, at different Mexico City venues. Film series, outdoor screenings, conferences, round tables and exhibitions in Morelia, Pátzcuaro and Mexico City complete FICM’s year-round activities.

See also

References

  1. ^ O'Boyle, Michael (25 September 2005). "Region gains showbiz visibility". Variety Film News.
  2. ^ Thompson, Anne (2025-09-17). "Ava DuVernay Returns to the Morelia International Film Festival to Lead 2025 Jury". IndieWire. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  3. ^ a b Fuente, Anna Marie de la (2025-10-18). "Pablo Pérez Lombardini's Environmental Thriller 'The Reserve' Wins Top Ojo Prizes at the 23rd Morelia Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  4. ^ "Robert Redford to Receive Career Achievement Award at Morelia Film Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  5. ^ "Claire Denis Receives the Artistic Excellence Award and Unveils her Commemorative Armchair at the 20th FICM". moreliafilmfest.com. Morelia International Film Festival. 2022-10-14.
  6. ^ "At the Morelia International Film Festival, Willem Dafoe says "he stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA"". The Yucatan Times. 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  7. ^ Gustavo R., Gustavo R. (2023-10-25). ""An exercise in survival": Jodie Foster Received the Award for Artistic Excellence". moreliafilmfest.com. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  8. ^ Oganesyan, Natalie (2024-10-26). "'Sujo' Tops Morelia Film Festival With Best Screenplay, Direction & Fiction Feature Wins In Strong Start To Oscar Race". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  9. ^ "98th ACADEMY AWARDS QUALIFYING FESTIVAL LIST" (PDF). Oscars.org. 2024-10-04. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-04-01. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
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