Festival del Cine Mexicano

The **Festival del Cine Mexicano** (Mexican Film Festival) is an annual film festival held in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. It is one of the most important film festivals in Latin America and showcases the best of Mexican cinema.

The festival was founded in 1986 by the University of Guadalajara and the Mexican Academy of Film Arts and Sciences. It is held every year in March and April and features a variety of films, from feature films to documentaries and short films.

The festival is open to all Mexican filmmakers and films must be produced in Mexico or be co-produced with a Mexican company. Films are selected by a jury of experts and are judged on their artistic and technical merits.

The festival awards a number of prizes, including the Golden Ariel for Best Film, the Silver Ariel for Best Director, and the Bronze Ariel for Best Actor and Best Actress. The festival also awards a number of special prizes, including the Mayahuel Award for Best Mexican Film and the José Cuervo Award for Best Short Film.

The Festival del Cine Mexicano is an important event for the Mexican film industry and provides a platform for Mexican filmmakers to showcase their work to a wider audience. The festival also helps to promote Mexican cinema internationally and has helped to raise the profile of Mexican filmmakers around the world.

**History**

The Festival del Cine Mexicano was founded in 1986 by the University of Guadalajara and the Mexican Academy of Film Arts and Sciences. The first festival was held in March 1987 and featured a total of 102 films. The festival has grown significantly since then and now features over 200 films each year.

The festival has been held in a variety of venues over the years, including the Teatro Degollado, the Teatro Diana, and the Cineteca Nacional. The festival is currently held at the Guadalajara International Film Festival Complex, which was built specifically for the festival in 2006.

**Programming**

The Festival del Cine Mexicano features a variety of films, from feature films to documentaries and short films. The festival also includes a number of special screenings, such as retrospectives and tributes to Mexican filmmakers.

The festival’s programming is divided into a number of sections, including:

* **Official Selection:** This section features the best of Mexican cinema and includes films that are competing for the festival’s awards.
* **Horizontes:** This section features films from emerging Mexican filmmakers.
* **Documentales:** This section features documentaries on a variety of topics.
* **Cortometrajes:** This section features short films from Mexican filmmakers.
* **Retrospectivas:** This section features retrospectives of the work of Mexican filmmakers.
* **Tributos:** This section pays tribute to Mexican filmmakers who have made significant contributions to the industry.

**Awards**

The Festival del Cine Mexicano awards a number of prizes, including:

* **Golden Ariel for Best Film:** This is the festival’s top prize and is awarded to the best feature film.
* **Silver Ariel for Best Director:** This award is given to the best director of a feature film.
* **Bronze Ariel for Best Actor:** This award is given to the best actor in a leading role in a feature film.
* **Bronze Ariel for Best Actress:** This award is given to the best actress in a leading role in a feature film.
* **Mayahuel Award for Best Mexican Film:** This award is given to the best Mexican film that is not competing for the Golden Ariel.
* **José Cuervo Award for Best Short Film:** This award is given to the best short film.

The festival also awards a number of special prizes, including the:

* **Ariel de Oro:** This award is given to Mexican filmmakers who have made significant contributions to the industry.
* **Ariel de Plata:** This award is given to Mexican actors, directors, and other film professionals who have made significant contributions to the industry.
* **Ariel de Bronce:** This award is given to Mexican film professionals who have made significant contributions to the industry.

**Impact**

The Festival del Cine Mexicano is an important event for the Mexican film industry and provides a platform for Mexican filmmakers to showcase their work to a wider audience. The festival also helps to promote Mexican cinema internationally and has helped to raise the profile of Mexican filmmakers around the world.

The festival has had a significant impact on the Mexican film industry and has helped to launch the careers of a number of successful Mexican filmmakers. The festival has also helped to increase awareness of Mexican cinema and has helped to make it more accessible to audiences around the world.

**Conclusion**

The Festival del Cine Mexicano is one of the most important film festivals in Latin America and showcases the best of Mexican cinema. The festival provides a platform for Mexican filmmakers to showcase their work to a wider audience and helps to promote Mexican cinema internationally. The festival has had a significant impact on the Mexican film industry and has helped to launch the careers of a number of successful Mexican filmmakers.