Primer Festival de Cine Mexicano en Hong Kong

MEXI CAN FILM FEST Ihongkong VAL

WITH THE SUPPORT OF

THE 1ST MEXICAN FILM FESTIVAL IN HONG KONG

PRESENTED BY

SPONSORED BY GRAPHIC DESIGN BY

M2A DESIGN LTD. m i l a n h o n g k o n g info@m2hk.com +852.9432.2487

INTRODUCTION

D

ear Friends, It is my great pleasure to present the first Mexican Film Festival in Hong Kong. This Film Festival is presented by MEXCHAM as part of our celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Mexico’s Independence.

About MEXCHAM:

I

MEXCHAM’s mission is to foster closer commercial and cultural ties between Mexico and China. Since its founding in April 2009, MEXCHAM Hong Kong has hosted several business and government delegations from Mexico looking to do business in China and has served as a spring board for Chinese companies seeking for business and investment opportunities in Mexico.

T

www.mexcham.org

n the year 1521, the Spanish arrived in Mexico to find a millenary civilization; a culture with rich traditions and unparallel advances in medicine, astronomy, architecture and math. Over the course of 300 years, these two distinct cultures underwent a process of assimilation and amalgamation. On the night of September 15, 1810 a new nation was born; a nation with its own unique identity which we now call Mexico. he films we are presenting in this festival give us an intimate look into the many facets of life in our country; from our rich culinary tradition, to the dramatic beauty of our volcanoes; from our political struggles to our sometimes over-the-top love for football. As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of our independence, we hope that this festival will be an opportunity for people in Hong Kong to discover Mexico and everything it has to offer.

W

e would like to thank “Cafe Punta del Cielo”, whose generous sponsorship has made this event possible. We would also like to thank the Consulate General of Mexico in Hong Kong for their support in promoting this event.

Sincerely,

Jorge Ramiro Film Festival Director MEXCHAM

MEXCHAM is a non-for-profit organization with offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing and Hong Kong.

Level 39, One Exchange Square 8 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong Tel. (852) 3101 7756 hk@mexcham.org

MEXICAN FILM FESTIVAL

P02

8 MAY 7:45 PM 7:oo

wellcome cocktail theater lobby

Spanish / English Subtitles Running time: 107 min Director: Roberto Sneider Starring: Ana Claudia Talancón, Daniel Gimenez Cacho

HASTA LOS HUESOS (Down to the Bone)

This is the story of a Man and his arrival in the land of the dead, where he is greeted by a worm, smiling skulls and the Catrina (Posada’s famous fancy skeleton) herself.

The main character gradually discovers that, in spite of some inconveniences,

ARRÁNCAME LA VIDA (TEAR THIS HEART OUT)

A young girl recounts her girlhood and eventual marriage to a general of the Mexican revolution. Though Catalina Guzman (Ana Claudia Talacon) was born into a rural family that suffers from abject poverty, she sees a way out via a long-term relationship with the conniving, calculating general Andres Asensio (Daniel Gimenez Cacho). Asensio’s aspirations extend far beyond the confines of the military: he ultimately plans to work his way up to the Mexican presidency. Dark clouds soon appear on the horizon in the form of scandals from Asensio’s personal life, including time spent in jail for murder. Catalina seems completely unfazed by all of this, but as it turns out, Catalina has a few agendas of her own.

being dead is not so bad.

Spanish / English Subtitles Running Time: 11 min Director: René Castillo

Adapted from a novel by one of the most outstanding writers of the new feminist Mexican literature, it is at once the haunting story of a woman’s life and a powerful account of post-revolutionary Mexico from a female perspective.

MEXICAN FILM FESTIVAL

P04

VOCES INOCENTES (INNOCENT VOICES) presented by

The eleven years old Chava (Carlos Padilla), has to become “the man of the family”, after his father abandoned them in the middle of the Civil War. During the decade of the 1980’s in El Salvador, the army was recruiting children removing them from their schools. In an effort to have a normal childhood Chava is caught up in a dramatic fight for his life as he desperately tries to avoid the war which is raging all around him. With the love of his mother (Leonor Varela) as his power, Chava finds the courage to maintain his heart open and his spirit strong in his fight against time.

9 MAY 7:30 PM

EL RETRATO DE SAM BRENNAN (SAM BRENNAN’S STORY) Sam is a boy who works in his father’s tavern.

He wants to sail around the world and imagines what it would be like to visit strange lands and wonderful places. One day, the sailors invite him to join the crew of a boat, on condition that he gives them his father’s wine and gold.

What will Sam decide?

Spanish / English Subtitles Running time: 120 min Director: Luis Mandoki Starring: Carlos Padilla, Leonor Varela

Spanish / English Subtitles Directors: Manuel Tonatiuh, Moreno Ramos Running Time: 6 min

MEXICAN FILM FESTIVAL

P06

10 MAY 7:00 PM 5000 METROS* (5000 METERS)

A group of 5 cancer survivors set off in an adventure with the goal of reaching the top of Mexicos tallest Volcanoe, 5,000 meters high (17,000 ft). Dr. Olvera has discovered in this quest a form of therapy to help pacients face cancer and to overcome the challenges it brings with it. Lead by a group of climbers the 5 cancer survivors find the peak of the volcanoe and also overcome their fears. This documentary also features the majestic natural beauty of the two volcanoes surrounding Mexico City, the Popocateptl and Iztlaciuahtl, which in the ancient Aztec lore were the earthly manifestation of male and female god and goddess. www.5000metros.com

*Documentary Director will be in the Theater to present her work.

P07

MEXICAN FILM FESTIVAL

Spanish / English Subtitles Running time: 50 min Producer: Eugenio Paoli Director: Cristina Ramiro Monroy

MEXICAN FILM FESTIVAL

ESTAMOS POR TODOS LADOS

(WE ARE EVERYWHERE)

PARTES USADAS (USED PARTS)

Piolo and Claudio, two middle class young men, suffer a psychological attack. An incident causes an unexpected twist in the story.

Spanish / English Subtitles Running Time: 8,30 min Director: Sofia Perez Suniaga

Spanish / English Subtitles Running time: 103 min Director: Aarón Fernández Lesur Starring: Eduardo Granados, Alan Chavez

10 MAY 8:15 PM

Ivan, a 14-year old boy, lives with his uncle Jaime, a mediocre dealer of used car parts. Both of them dream with a better life and are stashing away their money in order to immigrate illegally to Chicago.

When Jaime realizes that he needs much more money than he expected in order to pay the “Coyote” that will help them cross the border, he decides to introduce his nephew into the world of carpart theft. Ivan learns his new trade quickly and convinces Efrain, his best friend, to help him.

P10

P11

MEXICAN FILM FESTIVAL

FUERA DE CONTROL

DESIERTO ADENTRO

(OUT OF CONTROL)

(THE DESERT WITHIN)

Incomplete and isolated, several cha-

Elías has committed a great sin against God and is convinced that his children will be punished by premature death. Hoping to prevent the dreaded punishment, he dedicates his life to building a church so that God will forgive him. The story is told through the eyes of Aureliano, the youngest and most vulnerable son, who will portray the family saga in religious altarpieces.

The family life is related by Elias’ youngest son Aureliano (played as a child by Memo Dorante and later by Diego Catano) in five chapters. Because of his frail health, Aureliano seems destined to become the first victim of the family curse and is kept locked in a hut to stop him from catching any diseases. There, he must work on the paintings and ornaments that will finally decorate the church that the rest of the family is working on.

racters share the solitude inside a labyrinthine house. They will desperately look to complement each other.

Spanish / English Subtitles Running Time: 11 min Director: Sofía Carrillo

Spanish / English Subtitles Running time: 112 min Director: Rodrigo Pla Starring: Mario Zaragoza, Diego Catano

11 MAY 7:30 PM

MEXICAN FILM FESTIVAL

LA SUERTE DE LA FEA...

...A LA BONITA NO LE IMPORTA (WEIGHT WATCH)

RUDO Y CURSI*

(ROUGH AND VULGAR)

Susy wants to loose weight; her wish is so strong that she unintentionally invokes a unique fairy who will grant her three wishes, which she will use to become, maybe, the most beautiful woman on earth.

Spanish / English Subtitles Running Time: 9,45 min Director: Fernando Eimbcke

*Spanish Only (no english subtitles available) Running time: 103 min Director: Carlos Cuaron Starring: Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal

12 MAY

7:30 PM

Rudo y Cursi it’s a great movie that reunites Gael García Bernal (Amores Perros; Y tu mamá también; La mala educación; The Motorcycle Diaries and with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in Babel) and Diego Luna (Y tu mamá también; with Bon Jovi in Vampires: Los Muertos; Frida; with Sean Penn in Milk and with Tom Hanks in The Terminal) in a modern comedy that satirizes many of Mexico’s modern day issues: Machismo, Drugs and Football. The chemistry between García Bernal and Diego Luna makes it really enjoyable and funny.

The film is directed by Alfonso Cuarón’s brother and writer of “Y tu mamá También”, Carlos Cuarón who masterfully takes us through a wide range of emotions.

P14

venue

AGNES B. CINEMA UPPER BASEMENT HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE

FILMSCHEDULE MAY 08 SATURDAY

19:00 Welcome Cocktail 19:45 “Hasta los Huesos” p.03 20:00 “Arrancame la Vida” p.03-04

info http://mexicanfilmfestival.blogspot.com mexfilmfestival@gmail.com +852.6909.3735

tickets

MAY 09 SUNDAY

19:30 “El Retrato de Sam Brennan” p.06 19:40 “Voces Inocentes” p.05-06

MAY 10 MONDAY

FREE ADMISSION

19:00 “5000 Metros” p.07-08

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:

20:00 “Estamos por todos lados” p.09 20:15 “Partes Usadas” p.09-10

Agnes B. Cinema upper basement lobby UP TO 20 MINUTES BEFORE FUNCTIONS

MAY 11 TUESDAY

OR

19:30 “Fuera de Control” p.12 19:45 “Desierto Adentro” p.11-12

COLLECT THEM IN ADVANCE STARTING FROM APRIL 22 AT:

MAY 12 WEDNESDAY

L/GF, SHOP 1, LYNDHURST TOWER 1 LYNDHURST TERRACE CENTRAL

19:30 Closing Event 19:45 “La Suerte de la Fea..a la Bonita no le importa” p.13 20:00 “Rudo y Cursi” (Spanish only) p.13-14

L/GF, SHOP 1, LYNDHURST TOWER 1 LYNDHURST TERRACE CENTRAL, HONG KONG www.puntadelcielo.com.mx