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From November 9 to 16, Mérida will become the meeting point of contemporary Mexican cinema with the celebration of the 10th Edition of the Libre Cinema Festival. This year, the festival will feature 25 feature films and three short programs, screened at the “Manuel Barbachano Ponce” Cineteca and the video theater of the Olimpo Cultural Center.
Emmanuel Tatto Pérez, director of Libre Cinema, highlighted the importance of reaching a decade of constant work on a project that “promotes cinema that resists” and that seeks to show the richness and diversity of Mexico. Since its beginnings in 2014, this festival has been a space to showcase local and national filmmakers, consolidating itself as a benchmark in the Mexican southeast.
“Turning 10 years with the festival is an act of resistance, resilience, and stubbornness. It is a personal satisfaction and I can celebrate 10 years of a project that we have carried out on our own,” mentioned Tatto.
The programming will include the screening of “A Story of Love and War” by Santiago Mohar at the opening on November 9, while the closing will feature “A Fisherman’s Tale” by Edgar Nito on November 16. During the week, the presence of important guests is expected such as the actor Francisco Barreiro and the Zapotec director Casandra Casasola, who will present their projects and dialogue with the public.
As part of the celebrations of the 10th Edition, the festival began a Peninsular Tour in October, taking short films to communities in Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. This initiative seeks to decentralize Mexican cinema and offer spaces for dialogue on social and cultural issues of great relevance.
During the festival, three prizes will be awarded: Best Short Film, Best Production Portfolio, and the Young Jury’s recognition for Best Short Film, with incentives of up to 30 thousand pesos. This award seeks to encourage emerging talent and consolidate a screening space for independent cinema in the Mexican southeast.
Regarding the future of the festival, Tatto Pérez highlighted the importance of continuing “making films among friends, with or without resources, and maintaining the freshness and identity of the festival.” Libre Cinema has established itself as a cultural event that contributes significantly to the artistic and cinematographic offer of the region.
TYT Newsroom