Mexican director and film official Alejandro Joskowicz (pictured) died today in Mexico City from leukemia at age 74. Of Polish background, Joskowicz studied film at the Centro de Estudios Cinematográficos (CUEC) of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Crates was his debut feature film in 1970, which was followed by El cambio (1971), Meridiano 100 (1974), Constelaciones (1979), El caballito volador (1981), and Playa azul (1992).
Joskowicz also had a fruitful career as a film professor, not only teaching in both of Mexico's leading film schools, CUEC and Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (CCC), but also becoming director of both academic institutions. He was director of CCC between 1977 and 1982, and director of CUEC between 1989 and 1993.
He was also director of the Azteca Studios between 1983 and 1985, director of the Churubusco Studios between 1997 and 2000, and director of the Mexican Film Institute (IMCINE) between 2000 and 2006.
Earlier this year Joscowicz was awarded the Silver Mayahuel at the 27th edition of the Guadalajara Film Festival, and just a month ago he received the Golden Ariel at the 54th edition of the annual Mexican national film prize.
