Lila Avilés’ debut feature La camarista / The Chambermaid was the winner of the top prize for best film at the 16th edition of the Morelia Film Festival. A poignant and delicate class portrait, Avilés’ film follows Eve—played by the wonderful Gabriela Cartol (I Dream in Another Language)—a young chambermaid working in one of the most luxurious hotels in Mexico City, an exclusive glass tower inhabited by wealthy guests whose lives she imagines by their belongings left behind and absence. The film was also presented with the press award.
Alonso Ruizpalacios’ Museo was the winner of the best director and audience awards in the Mexican film competition. Other winners include Naian González Norvind for best actress for her role in Isaac Cherem’s Leona and Raúl Briones for best actor for his role in Kenya Márquez’s Asfixia.
In the documentary competition, Nuria Ibáñez’s Una corriente salvaje was the winner of the award for best documentary, while Lindsey Corderoy and Armando Croda’s Ya me voy / I’m Leaving Now was the winner of a special jury mention and Melissa Elizondo’s El sembrador was the winner of the audience award. Elizondo’s film was also the winner of the press award and best documentary directed by a woman.
The short film winners were Betzabé García’s La chica con dos cabezas for best fiction, Víctor Orozco Ramírez’s 32-Rbit for best animation and Gastón Andrade’s El peso de los caídos for best documentary.
The 16th edition of the Morelia Film Festival took place October 20 - 28 in Mexico.
