Jodie Foster, Juliette Binoche and Stellan Skarsgård led the Morelia stars

Newcomers triumphed at the 23rd Film Festival of Morelia (FICM) on October 17th, with a number of debut features taking home the top prize of the year. The environmental thriller “The Reserve” (“La reserva”), directed by Pablo Pérez Lombardini, won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress (Carolina Guzman).

Perez Lombardini’s debut film first caught people’s attention last year at Ventana Sur. In addition to taking home the statue of Oshiro, they also received a certificate in cash or in kind.

Based on real-life accounts from environmentalists, The Reserve depicts the unyielding fight of forest rangers to protect the forests surrounding a remote village. This photo, taken in rural Chiapas with non-professionals, captures the urgent and ongoing struggle facing conservationists across Latin America.

This time more than 100 films participated in the competition. Hailed by director Alfonso Cuarón as “a cultural landmark not only for Morelia but for all of Mexico” and by director Guillermo del Toro as “an essential platform for Mexican and world cinema…and one of the most important cultural events in the world”, the festival was founded and is still directed by Daniela Michel.

The festival, which began on October 10th and concluded on October 19th, featured films screened by guests from all over the world throughout the week. These include Stellan Skarsgård (“Sentimental Value”), Juliette Binoche (“In-I: In Motion”), Jodie Foster (“Vie Prive”), Gael García Bernal (“Amores Perros” 25th Anniversary), Kleber Mendonça Filho (“The Secret Agent”), Rodrigo Garcia (“The Follies”) and Jafar Panahi. (“It Was Just an Accident”), Charlie Kaufman (“How to Shoot a Ghost”), Sherian Davis (“All That’s Left of You”), Lucrecia Martel (“Nuestra tierra”), Robin Campillo (“Enzo”), Oliver Lux (“Sirât”).

The Ojo Award for Best Original Screenplay went to Karen Plata for her work on newcomer Ernesto Martínez Busio’s childhood survival story “The Devil Smokes (And Saves the Burnt Match in the Same Box),” which won Best Feature at the first Berlinale in Perspective.

Meanwhile, David Pablo’s On the Road, which just won big in Venice, won the Ojo Award for Best Cinematography for director Jimena Ammann, and Best Actor for Victor Miguel Prieto and Osvaldo Sánchez.

Actress Mayra Hermosillo won the all-important Audience Award for her feature directorial debut Vanilla, which also had its world premiere in Venice, and Richard Linklater won the International Audience Award for Nouvelle Vague.

In Mexico’s documentary category, Indira Cato’s “Being Olimpia” (“Llamarse Olimpia”), about Olympia Coral Melo, a feminist icon who campaigned against cybersex violence, won the Ojo Award, which includes cash and prizes in kind.

“Impulso Morelia,” directed by Dano García of the fam-led Chicken & Egg Film Company, won three awards in the Pics in Post competition for post-production awards in the film festival’s industry category.

A panel of judges led by Ava DuVernay (Chairman) and Pablo Berger, David Linde and Andrea Palaoro selected the following winners:

Ojo Award for Best Mexican Feature Film

“The Reserve” (“La reserva” by Pablo Perez Lombardini)

Ojo Award for Best Director of a Mexican Feature Novel

Pablo Perez Lombardini “The Reserve” (“La reserva”)

Casa Wabi – Essine Award for first-time directors

Nuria Ibáñez Castañeda, “The Guardian” (“El Guardian”)

Mexican Feature Film Award Cinematography

Ximena Ammann “On the Road” (“En el camino” by David Pablos)

Best Screenplay Award for Mexican Feature Novel

Karen Plata, Ernesto Martínez Busio’s “The Devil Smokes (And Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box)” (“El diablo fuma (y Guarda las cabezas de los cerillos quemados en la missma caja)”)

Ozito Award for Best Mexican Feature Actress

Carolina Guzman, “The Reserve” (“La reserva”)

Ozito Award for Best Actor in a Mexican Feature Film

Victor Miguel Prieto and Osvaldo Sanchez, “On the Road” (“En el camino”)

International Feature Film Audience Award

“Nouvelle Vague” Richard Linklater

Audience Award for Mexican Feature Novel

“Vanilla” (“Vanilla, Mayra Hermosillo”)

Special Award for Mexican Novel Feature Film

Basilio Moncada wins Best Acting Award for “The Guardian” (“El Guardian”)

Mexican Documentary (Judges: B. Ruby Rich, Andrei Ujica, Kathy Gerrits)

Best Mexican Documentary Award

“Being Olympia” (“Lamarus Olympia”, Indira Cato)

audience award

“My Benjamin” (“My Benjamin” Victoria Clay Mendoza)

Impulso Morelia 11

Panel: Eva Caen, Cristian Caronico, Benjamin Domenech, Cedric Sacbari, Alberto Valverde.

Caffeine Post Production Award:

Splendor Omnia Studio Award:

Estudio Churubusco Award:

José María Riva Award: “Chicas tristes”, Fernanda Tovar.