The Mexican film Cuates de Australia / Drought (pictured) by Everardo González won the prize as Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Film Festival, which came to a close today. The film, which had its US Premiere at the Californian festival, tells the story of a Cuates de Australia, cattle-ranching community in northeastern Mexico on the verge of extinction. The award comes with an unrestricted cash prize of $15,000.
The documentary jury was comprised of film producers Heather Rae and Karin Chien, and director Mark Landsman. This is the second time a Mexican film wins the prize for Best Documentary in the festival after Juan Carlos Rulfo and Carlos Haggerman's Los que se quedan / Those Who Remain in 2009.
Additionally, the festival announced that the Chilean film De jueves a domingo / Thursday till Sunday by Dominga Sotomayor received an Honorable Mention from the narrative competition jury. In its 18th edition, the LA Film Festivals featured more than 200 films from 40 different countries.
