Monica Bellucci

The fifth edition of the Los Cabos International Film Festival was concluded with a tribute to Italian diva Monica Bellucci  in honor of all her accomplishments. The Pabellon Cultural de la Republica of Cabo San Lucas was filled with glamour thanks to Italian diva Monica Bellucci’s arrival at the Los Cabos International Film Festival. Monica Bellucci captured everyone´s attention when she walked the red carpet, sealing our 2016 edition of the film festival with a flourish, ratifying this event as one of the leading film festivals in both Mexico and North America. The actress, who’s acting has stood out in movies such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) by Francis Ford Coppola, Irreversible (2002) by Gaspar Noé, L´Apartment (1996) by Gilles Mimouni, Malèna (2000) by Giusepe Tornatore, and, most recently, in Spectre (2015) by Sam Mendes, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the festival’s Director, Alonso Aguilar Castillo. “I respect this country, its culture and traditions“ She said to the audience. As a part of the tribute dedicated to the actress, the festival screened the movie On the Milky Road, which is directed by Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica and stars Monica Bellucci herself. Additionally, the awards ceremony took place today, where the winners were: In the Competencia de Los Cabos category: American Honey by Andrea Arnold Cinemex Competencia Los Cabos Award – MXN$200,000 In the México Primero category: X500 by Juan Andrés Arango Cinemex México Primero Award  – MXN$200, 000 Tamara and the Ladybug by Lucía Carrera FIPRESCI México Primero Award Tamara and the Ladybug by Lucía Carrera Art Kingdom Trailer Award – awarded by Art Kingdom Showbiz Agency with a value of USD$12,000 for the realization of a cinematographic trailer. Beauties of the Night by Maria José Cuevas The Cinemex Audience – MXN$200, 000 Donald Cried by Kris Avedisian Labodigital Incentive for Distribution – USD$15, 000 The winners of the Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund were also acknowledged, where 26 projects had been selected to take place in the competition. The winners were: Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund – 3 scholarships of MXN$150,000, each one: Cómprame un revólver by Julio Hernández Cordón Alicia by Michael Rowe Monsters and men by Reinaldo M. Green Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund – Labodigital Award the– USD$160, 000 The Rosenbergs by Sophie Barthe Nieves by Alejandra Márquez Los Adioses by Natalia Beristain Los Días Más Oscuros De Nosotras by Astrid Rondero Llueve by Carolina Corral Cómprame Un Revólver by Julio Hernández Cordón Mics and Celluloid by Carlos Carrera LCI Seguros de Seguros Award for – USD$10, 000 Serpiente emplumada by Alejandro Sugich CTT EXP & RENTALS Award – MXN$1, 256, 640.80 in equipment rental Alicia by Michael Rowe The movie that closed this year´s edition of the film festival was Captain Fantastic, directed by Matt Ross, who was recently awarded the title of Best Director in the category Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival this year. On the other hand, the Los Cabos Industry Meetings closed this year´s activities with one last round of one on one meetings between influential members of the film industry and filmmakers who were participants in the Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund. These three days of networking permitted the participants to find possible associates for their future projects. The last banquet between Mexican and Canadian producers was held as well, which helped seal cooperation agreements between the attendees. The second discussion table was held by the distinguished invitees of the festival, to confer about the films that took part in the Competencia de Los Cabos category. The participants were Fernanda Solórzano from Letras Libres, Erick Estrada from CineGarage and Leonardo García-Tsao from La Jornada. Arturo Aguilar, from Tomatazos, moderated the discussion. The powerful program conformed by México Primero, Competencia Los Cabos, B-Side, Special Presentations, American Specials, World Highlights, and Green will still have screenings until Sunday, November 13th. With presence of actors, directors and producers of the movies, some standouts were Christine by Antonio Campos, Hasta la raíz by Bruno Bancalari and Juan Pablo López Fonseca with appearances from both filmmakers, Morris from America by Chad Hartigan presented by its director and its star, Craig Robinson, Burn Your Maps by Jordan Roberts, presented by renowned young actor Jacob Tremblay, and War on Everyone, presented by its director John Michael McDonagh, along with coproducer Elizabeth Eves, and actors Michael Peña and Mexican actress Stephanie Sigman. The fifth edition of the Los Cabos International Film Festival said farewell to its invitees with an emotional closure celebrated at the Hotel ME Cabo. Download photographs at: http://www.image.net/cabosfilmfestival    ]]>