10 Incredible Facts About the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico

The Morelia International Film Festival happens every second week of October. Are you a cinema geek looking for a reason to travel to Mexico? That’s great! I’ll give you not one, not two, but 10 excuses!

The Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia (Morelia International Film Festival) is a 4-day event in the great “city of pink quarry stone” that features cultural activities, conferences, cocktails, and more. 

¡Veamos qué pasa!
Let’s see what happens!

10 Amazing Facts about the Morelia International Film Festival

The Morelia International Film Festival or FICM is a nonprofit association dedicated to supporting Mexican actors, filmmakers, and production staff. 

Its prime goal is to promote and spread cinematographic culture in Mexico. The FICM is internationally known as the ultimate meeting point for the film community of Mexico. Check out these 10 awesome facts about the FICM.

1. You Can Watch Nominated Movies All Day Long at the FICM

At the Morelia International Film Festival, theaters are open all day long so you can watch nominated movies, one after another. 

Cinepolis is the largest movie theatre chain in Mexico. It was founded in 1971 in Morelia, and it is the top sponsor of the FICM. Its Morelian theaters and screening spots project the nominated films. 

The schedules are designed so you can watch multiple movies a day. Indulge your cinematic sweet tooth and binge-watch all you want!

2. Nominated Films are Carefully Selected by an Expert Panel

What will you watch? The FICM has four competitive sections: Mexican documentary, Michoacan films, Mexican short film, and Mexican feature films. 

The documentary section has the spotlight because a new generation of documentary makers have sprouted in the last decade from the Morelia International Film Festival. 

Watching FICM movies will make you think and get a new perspective on the subject. The pieces are carefully selected by a group of experts in the film industry.

Although international releases can’t take part in the competition, some movies from the Cannes International Critics’ Week are shown at FICM.

3. You Can Meet the Makers of Your Favorite FICM Movies

How cool is that? After some screenings, the film directors share about the symbolism and making of the movie, the inspiration for the film, or other personal experiences about the production process.

Face time with the filmmakers is one of the best attributes of the Morelia International Film Festival. This kind of closeness to an art piece is difficult to find elsewhere, and there’s plenty of it at this great event in Mexico.

You went to see an amazing movie. You got lucky ,and the director was there and talked about the piece. But now a question-and-answer session starts… today’s your day. These interactions make the whole experience more memorable and meaningful.

4. You Can Interact With Directors After Movie Screenings

You went to see an amazing movie. You got lucky ,and the director was there and talked about the piece. But now a question-and-answer session starts… today’s your day. These interactions make the whole experience more memorable and meaningful.

5. You’ll Meet International Personalities 

Tons of international personalities parade around the Morelia International Film Festival every year, including stars like Quentin Tarantino, Guillermo del Toro, Gael García Bernal, Javier Bardem, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lawrence, Willem Dafoe, Audrey Tautou, and Diego Luna.

These celebrities and icons of the film industry come to participate as judges, to support colleagues, or to announce upcoming premiers and projects. 

6. You’ll Meet Like-minded Cinema-savvy People 

Find your tribe at the Morelia International Film Festival! At the FICM, cinema enthusiasts feel like un pez en el agua (a fish in water). Attendees share a passion for film and are there to learn and discuss the cinema, promote and view films, and network with like-minded people.

7. You Can Attend a Workshop

Many kinds of workshops are available at the FICM. All of the workshops are taught by professionals with international expertise. The general requirements include a passion for cinema and advanced English and Spanish.

Be sure to plan ahead by enrolling in advance. Some of the workshops are for amateurs or beginners, so no experience is required. This is a wonderful chance to dive deep into the cinema world and practice Spanish at the same time!

8. The Offers Excellent Networking Opportunities

The Morelia International Film Festival is a prime check point for people with cinematic interests of any kind. 

Sponsors are there looking for a stellar project to fund. Directors and producers go to meet people, present films, and answer questions in Q&As. Film enthusiasts go to watch movies, participate in forums and workshops. 

In sum, most of the people who attend the FICM are there to network and create relationships.

9. The FIlms Portray Honest Portraits of Mexico

Coming to the Morelia International Film Festival and watching nominated movies means getting and understanding honest portraits of Mexico. These kinds of experiences are priceless. 

Get ready to dive deep into Mexican culture, traditions, customs, lifestyle, habits, and values. Gaining new perspectives by watching nominated films will not only expand your knowledge but also your compassion. You will be in other people’s shoes for four days. 

10. The FICM has Unparalleled International Exposure

Winning films from FICM participate in other film festivals around Mexico and the world. The festival is recognized by Cannes International Critics’ Week and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

That means attendees get to see breakthrough movies first—before they become famous and mainstream. If you’re an early bird who wants to discover art pieces, discuss them, and be part of their beginning, this is the perfect event for you! 

When is the 2021 Morelia International Film Festival?

FICM 2021 is from October 27 to November 1 and will include a mix of physical and virtual movie screenings. The in-person shows will be held in downtown movie theaters in Morelia, and the virtual ones will be streamed through the FICM en linea (online) and other digital platforms. 

Learn Spanish Before Heading to the Festival

Are you ready to pack your bags and head to Morelia for the FICM? Talk to locals, see the movies, ask questions, and forge new relationships—it’s an amazing opportunity to learn about Mexican culture with a front row seat. And it would be tarnished if you couldn’t understand or communicate in Spanish. 

To remedy the situation, study with us at Homeschool Spanish Academy. We tailor our Spanish packages according to your unique goals and needs. Sign up for a free trial class to practice your conversational skills with a native speaker before you head off to the film festival! Afterwards, you can go back to the U.S. and chat with any of the 53 million people who speak this beautiful language.

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