Wind Traces
Two films by female directors were the top winners at the 33rd edition of the Guadalajara Film Festival: Wind Traces / Restos de viento by Jimena Montemayor was the winner of the Mezcal Award for Best Mexican Film and Best Director, while Killing Jesús / Matar a Jesús by Laura Mora was the winner of the Award for Best Ibero-American Film.
Wind Traces tells the story of Carmen, who is far from her homeland, depressed and unable to take care of her children and awaiting the return of her husband. Daniel, the youngest child receives an unexpected visit, which goes beyond the limits of reality and his imagination. Ana, the oldest child rejects adult life. Together, the three of them will try to accept what they cannot see.
Inspired by true events, Mora's Killing Jesús follows Paula, a young Colombian student who witnesses the cold-blooded murder of her father. After suffering the police’s ineffectiveness, she accidentally encounters the hitman responsible for the job. Driven by anger, frustration and pain, revenge seems to be her only possible choice.
Other winners in the Mexican competition were actors Noé Hernández and Daniela Schmidt from Ocho de cada diez / Eight Out of Ten by Sergio Umansky for Best Actor and Best Actress, La Negrada by Jorge Pérez Solano for Best Cinematography, and a Special Mention to director Zita Erffa for The Best Thing You Can Do with Your Life. The Audience Award was presented to the documentary film Ayotzinapa, el paso de la tortuga / Ayotzinapa, the Turtle’s Way by Enrique García Meza and produced by Guillermo del Toro.
Additional winners in the Ibero-American competition include the Argentine film Alanis by Anahí Berneri for Best Director and Best Actress, the Peruvian film Wiñaypacha by Óscar Catacora for Best First Film and Best Cinematography, the Bolivian film Eugenia by Martín Boulocq for Best Screenplay, and the Best Actor Award was a tie between Luis Gerardo Méndez for his role in the Mexican film Tiempo compartido / Time Share by Sebastián Hofmann and Giovanni Rodríguez in Killing Jesús.
In the documentary competition, the Special Jury Prize was awarded to the Argentine film El espanto / The Dread by Pablo Amparo and Martín Benchimol, and the Brazilian film Tinta Bruta / Hard Paint by Filipe Matzembacher won the Maguey Award for Best LGBTQ Film.
The 33rd edition of the Guadalajara Film Festival took place March 9 - 16 in Mexico.
