Premio Maguey, the prestigious LGBTQ+ section of the Film Festival of Guadalajara (FICG), is celebrating its 15th anniversary, a milestone they named Quierciañera, a fusion of the words quinceañera, the Latin American sacred coming-of-age celebration for queers and girls turning 15.
Since its creation in 2012, the first queer film awards in Mexico and Latin America have grown and established themselves as one of the festival’s most powerful sidebars.
Reflecting on this pivotal milestone, its director Pavel Cortés said: “It may seem rather exaggerated to speak of the influence that Premio Maguey has had on Guadalajara and other parts of the country. However, its social contribution to the legitimation of sexual diversity and queer culture, both regionally and nationally, is undeniable.”
Its influence underscores the role of film as a powerful tool for social change, he added.
“Unfortunately, over the last 15 years of the Premio Maguey Awards, we have witnessed changes in the world in relation to sexual diversity, but this award remains a very important and necessary award, and accepting it remains a matter of privilege.”
“Mexico remains a country that is intolerant of sexual diversity and has a significant record of hate crimes and transfemicide,” he asserted.
Premio Maguey was launched at a time when the topic was still considered taboo in the country and faced racism and marginalization, he said. “Since then, queer film production in the country has consolidated, and today we present seven of the 16 Mexican films that make up the official competition for Best Picture, Jury Prize and Best Performance.”
The 15th edition will feature a selection of fiction, documentaries and short films focused on Mexican work and transmasculine parenting. Sharon Kleinberg’s I Am Mario (Mexico) and Daniel Ribeiro’s I Will Miss You (Brazil), as well as the short film Alex (Mexico) in the special screening, tell the story of Alex, a non-binary woman who becomes pregnant and attempts to give birth. abortion.
The special screenings include Oscar winner Alejandro Amenábar’s The Sea Inside and Venice Orizzonti Best Picture and Queer Lion winner David Pablos’ On the Road.
fiction
Eruption (“Erupción”) Piet Orth, USA, Poland
A Polish florist and a British tourist strike up an unexpected romance through a chance encounter and fleeting magical moments.
“Eruption” provided by: FICG
I Am Mario (“Soy Mario”) Sharon Kleinberg, Mexico
Mario, a 40-year-old trans taxi driver, is faced with an unexpected pregnancy, which opens the door for him to fulfill his dream of becoming a father.
I Will Miss You (“Eu vou ter saudades de você”) Daniel Ribeiro, Brazil
After seven years together, Amanda and Caio move in together, but love isn’t enough. Their relationship is tested and changed when Joan enters their lives.
Ivan and Hadoom (Ivan and Hadoom) Ian de la Rosa, Spain
Ivan, a trans man who works in a greenhouse warehouse, falls in love with his co-worker, Hadum, a Spanish-Moroccan man. Despite their family’s opposition, they pursue a relationship between the greenhouse and the seaside landscape.
Like a Kite (“Fate Pipa”) Alan Everton, Brazil
Gugu dreams of becoming a great soccer player. Raised freely by his grandmother, he will do anything to avoid living with his father.
No Dogs Allowed (“No Dogs Allowed”) Steve Bache, Germany
Gabo, a seemingly ordinary 15-year-old with disturbing tendencies, develops a troubled relationship with an older man. When a man is arrested, Gabo must decide whether to testify or keep his dark secret.
“Dogs are not allowed to enter” Provided by: FICG
On the Sea (“En el mar”) Helen Walsh, UK
A poetic exploration of masculinity and desire in a remote fishing village of wild, untouched beauty.
Pioneer (“Pionellas”) Marta Díaz de Lope Díaz, Spain
In early 1970s Spain under Franco’s rule, a group of young women play soccer against societal norms, find an unlikely ally, and lay the foundations for the future of women’s soccer.
The Circle of Liars (“El círculo de los mentirosos”) Nancy Cruz Orozco, Mexico
Cecilia, who has come to the city in hopes of becoming a writer, meets Nicolas and Aristeo, two young poets who claim to be the founders and sole members of an underground ultramist movement.
Wanted (“Se Busca”) Kenya Marquez, Mexico
Rene, a lonely teenager, runs away from home and heads to Ciudad Juárez, where an inner calling leads her on a journey of self-discovery.
What They Left Us (“Lo que nos van dejando”) Issa Garcia Ascot, Mexico
A biologist is forced to journey into the jungle, where she comes face to face with deeply buried memories of her past.
documentary
“Cuba Street” (“Calle Cuba”) Vanessa Batista, Chile, Cuba, Mexico
Four women, one street, and an entire country pulsate between invisible wounds and dreams of resistance.
“I Have Two Dads” (“Yo tengo dos papás”) Edgar Reyes, Mexico
Santiago’s story: from abandonment to a fate-changing embrace
“Mickey” (“Mickey”) Dano Garcia, Mexico
A collage spanning 10 years between two friends becomes a film that explores Mickey’s journey of self-discovery and those who grew up with her
“Mickey” provided by: FICG
“Our bodies are expanding stars” (“Nuestro cuerpo es una estrella que se Expande”) Semirites Hernández Velasco, Tania Hernández Velasco, Mexico
Through collage, animation, dance, and intimate documentary, Tania and her brother Semirite confront childhood rejection, question their bodies, and create a sensuous exploration of identity.
“Shelter” (“Cobijo”) Adrian Silvestre, Spain
While studying to become a writer, Cecilia joins a youth poetry movement in a town that is consumed by envy.
Special screening
“Alex” Natalia Bermudez, Mexico
Alex, a non-binary woman, becomes pregnant and embarks on a journey to have an abortion with the support of her aunt Salome, a traditional doctor.
“The Teacher’s Gift” Arthur Ribeiro, England, India
In London, a Hindi teacher torn between duty and desire forms an unexpected bond that leads him to India.
“Flowers” (“Flores”) Job Samaniego Rivera, Mexico
After a magical encounter with flowers, Moises and his daughter Sammy embark on a journey of discovery and transformation. Through an ancient story seen through Sammy’s eyes, a colorful world emerges that allows Moisés to accept himself and finally see the real Sammy.
“Lemebel” Joanna Reposi Garibaldi, Mexico
The story of writer and visual artist Pedro Lemebel, from the founding of the collective Las Yeguas del Apocalypsis during the dictatorship to his death from cancer in 2015.
“On the Road” (“En el camino”) David Pablos, Mexico
A castaway who sleeps with a truck driver meets a booked driver and joins them in transporting goods in northern Mexico. As they grow closer together, the castaway’s past threatens them both.
“The Sea Inside” (“Mar adentro”) Alejandro Amenábar, Spain, France, Italy
Javier Bardem stars in this portrait of Ramon Sampedro, a Spaniard who fought for 30 years for euthanasia and the right to die. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Feature.
“When You Get Home” (“Cuando llegue a casa”) Edgar Adrian, Mexico
A Guadalajara teenager searches for identity between friendship and desire. During a temple festival, this search puts his relationship with his grandmother in jeopardy.
