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Los Cabos International Film Festival: New Directions

Los Cabos International Film Festival: New Directions

Founded in 2012 and ranked among the most respected cinema celebrations in the world, the Los Cabos International Film Festival is scheduled for Nov. 11 – 18. The festival, held in one of Mexico's premier resort destinations, draws many of the film industry's leading actors, producers, directors, and screenwriters from Mexico, the U.S. and around the world.

In addition to gala film screenings, this year’s festival will feature workshops, pitch sessions, nightly networking parties—and many exciting new initiatives.

Among the new additions for 2021 is “Cinema for Everyone,” a cycle of free outdoor performances presented in different public squares in Los Cabos. The screenings are in collaboration with the City Council and the Municipal Institute of Culture of the Arts. According to the festival’s organizers, “These functions are intended to provide attendees with a much closer and more accessible film experience.”

Another innovation for 2021: “Cinema on the Beach.” This environmental initiative seeks to provide the public with a unique experience—the best of cinema in the best place: Los Cabos. El Medano Beach, the destination’s iconic Blue Flag-certified beach in Cabo San Lucas, will be the venue for a series of Mexican films. These include The Good Girls, by Alejandra Marquez; Bayoneta, by Kyzza Terrazas; and Lost, by Jorge Michel Grau.

“In Conversation with…” will offer dialog with some of the most relevant national and international figures in the world of cinema. These insightful talks, moderated by a specialist, invite filmmakers and others to share their experiences and trajectory with the public. In addition, selected “panels” will reflect on current issues related to the film industry.

On its 10th anniversary, the Los Cabos International Film Festival has expanded its borders and joined forces with the British Climate Crisis Film Festival (CCFF) to propose actions, narratives and practices that promote a better relationship with the environment.

As part of this unprecedented alliance, explicitly designed to trigger actions in defense of the environment, a film exchange is being promoted between Mexican and British audiences. In addition, experts will weigh in on what they suggest will be a more environmentally-friendly future for the film industry.

This year, the festival’s Green section is being transformed into “Green Strand,” which will present a curatorial synergy between both festivals. Three works stand out for narratives focused on environmental concerns. These films include:

· Poupelle of Chimney Town (2020), an animated production by Japanese filmmaker Yusuke Hirota. It closed the Rotterdam Festival earlier this year.

· River (2021), the first collaboration between Australian directors Jennifer Peedom and Joseph Nizeti. It premiered at the Telluride Festival.

· Above Water (2021), a documentary by the French-Senegalese director Aïssa Maïga. It was screened at the most recent Cannes Film Festival.

This last title is expected to build a bridge between Mexico and Glasgow, Scotland. It will be presented simultaneously both on the festival’s online platform and at the CCFF award ceremony (presented by Ocean Bottle), thereby achieving a unique connection among festivals, countries and programs. This event will also have unprecedented cinematographic relevance, as it will be one of the final acts of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change 2021 (COP26), on November 12.

Reinforcing this joint initiative, the Los Cabos International Film Festival will host the “Ignite Sessions: 7 Perspectives for a Greener Film and Festival Industry.” This series of conferences will feature seven speakers from America and Europe who will address ecological thinking. The goal is twofold: evolve practices to govern the contemporary film industry; and develop new narratives to reduce the footprint we leave on our environment.

For more information on the festival’s events, visit https://www.cabosfilmfestival.com/