The first edition of the Riviera Maya Film Festival came to a close last night in which Mexican films Los últimos cristeros / The Last Christeros (pictured) by Matías Meyer and Cuates de Australia / Drought by Everardo González were the big winners, each receiving a cash prize of $300,00 Mexican pesos (about $25,000 USD). The jury was composed by Uruguayan producer Sandino Saravia, Mexican documentary filmmaker Eugenio Polgovsky and Argentine film critic Diego Lerer.
In parallel to the official selection in the Mexican competitions, awards were given in the RivieraLAB for projects in development. Three projects were selected to receive a cash prize of $200,000 Mexican pesos (about $16,000 USD) for development: Tormentero / Stormmaker by Rubén Imaz (Mexico); Réimon by Rodrigo Moreno (Argentina); and Nueva España the new project by Raya Martin (Philippines). Additionally in the Work in Progress section, the Uruguayan project Tanta agua by filmmakers Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge Romero won the main prize for postproduction, whilst the Brazilian project Material de composición by Pedro Aspahan received a Special Mention.
After its first edition, the Riviera Maya Film Festival promises to become an important showcase for Mexican cinema as well as a solid platform for international films.
