Tucson Cine Mexico, a partnership between the University of Arizona Hanson Film Institute, New York-based Cinema Tropical, and Mexico City’s Ambulante, has announced the 2017 festival program featuring five Arizona premieres.
With a focus on presenting the best of the latest films from Mexico, co-directors Vicky Westover and Carlos Gutiérrez have this year selected films ranging from a bizarre-yet-true crime story from veteran auteur and “master of the Mexican bizarre” Arturo Ripstein, to a debut documentary from director María José Cuevas that swept multiple awards at its first screening at the Morelia Film Festival.
Vicky Westover said “As in past years, Mexican filmmakers created many exceptional films from which to choose for Tucson Cine Mexico audiences. Carlos and I are excited to present a selection of films that showcase a rich diversity in genre, style, content, and creative approach. We're also delighted to welcome to Tucson Maria José Cuevas, the incredibly talented first-time director of our Opening Night Film, Bellas de Noche."
In addition to Bellas de Noche, the festival will screen Rodrigo Pla's engrossing combination of thriller, drama and timely socio-political commentary A Monster With a Thousand Heads / Un monstruo de mil cabezas; Rigoberto Perezcano’s murder mystery with a transgendered protagonist Carmín Tropical, Arturo Ripstein's melodrama noir based on a true yet bizarre crime story Bleak Street / La calle de la amargura; and José Villalobos' El Charro de Toluquilla, a mariachi singer and braggart who lives his life like a chauvinistic vintage Mexican movie character, but with one difference: he is HIV-positive.
The 14th edition of Tucson Cine Mexico will take place March 22 - 26 at the Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 in Tucson, Arizona.
