The Mexican film Güeros (pictured) the debut feature film by director Alonso Ruizpalacios was awarded with the prize for Best Latin American film at the 62nd edition of the San Sebastian Film Festival. The film which was competing in the Latino Horizons section was the favorite by the jury over eight films from Argentina, a Colombian, and a Chilean film.
Two other films were awarded Special Jury Mentions in the same category: the Colombian film Gente de Bien by Franco Lolli, and Argentinean film Natural Sciences / Ciencias naturales by Matías Lucchesi.
Güeros, which premiered at the last edition of the Berlin Film Festival where it was awarded with the Best First Film prize, the film is equal parts road movie and coming of age story that pays homage to the French New Wave. Tomás moves in with his older brother who is studying in Mexico City. He and his roommate are currently striking against the strike which their fellow-students are organising at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Tomás has brought a cassette along with him; the tape is part of his father’s legacy and contains the music of Epigmenio Cruz. When the trio learns that their idol is in hospital fading fast and alone, they set off in their rusty heap of a car to pay their last respects to this one-time rock star.
The 62nd edition of the San Sebastian Film Festival took place September 19-27 in Spain.
