Mexican Animation in the Spotlight 

"Everyone knows Guillermo del Toro, Jorge R. Gutierrez, but what do we really know about Mexican animation, which remains very little-known? Annecy Festival 2023 will give pride of place to Mexican animation, putting it in the spotlight this year. This is why we asked Mexican programmers to provide us with an overview of this great country’s entire historical production. This will be the chance for the festivalgoers to discover many films, some of which were screened at Annecy, some were Annecy award-winners, but also others that will be screened here for the very first time."
Marcel Jean, the Festival’s Artistic Director

This year, Annecy is adorned with the colours of Mexican animation with its 9 distinctive programmes.

• Mexican Archeology: Back to Mexican animation’s roots, this programme highlights the experimental and historical works reflecting the multiplicity and milestones in Mexico’s animation history.
• Guadalajara School: The birthplace of one of Mexican animation’s most iconic visuals, Guadalajara is a constant source of inspiration. Explore this inimitable vibe through a selection of works from 2001 to 2022.
• Indigenous Mexico: The Mexican cultural tapestry is characterised by a wide variety of indigenous peoples. This programme takes us on a journey through the heritage history of these indigenous communities.
• Urban and Suburban Tales: Through a host of different mediums, the films in this programme capture life’s essence in Mexican towns, granting us a glimpse into the beauty and complexity of Mexican urban areas.
• Mexican TV: Television codes shift to make way for original Mexican content on the country’s small screen. This programme presents a few of the more recent shows, in particular the first animated series for TV created in Mexico in 1972.
• Growing up Mexican: This programme looks at the films that have fascinated young Mexicans over the last few decades, both regarding their stories and the way they view children as the discerning audience that they are.
• Growing up Mexican: This programme looks at the films that have fascinated young Mexicans over the last few decades, both regarding their stories and the way they view children as the discerning audience that they are.
• Growing up Mexican: This programme looks at the films that have fascinated young Mexicans over the last few decades, both regarding their stories and the way they view children as the discerning audience that they are.
• Mexico in Hollywood TV: This programme reveals how Mexican expertise has integrated American production.

This multifarious programming illustrates Mexican animation’s unique characteristics, from the techniques employed to the themes combining social realities with the divergence of a multi-faceted culture.

In this selection we feature some key directors such as René Castillo with Down to the Bone (Hasta los huesos – 2001) which won several Annecy awards, and Carlos Carrera with The Hero, Palme d'Or for a Short Film at Cannes in 1994.

The Jury

The Festival welcomes three Mexican jury members to its 2023 edition:

• Jorge R. GUTIERREZ (VR Works category), a director, in particular of The Book of Life, and he designed the Festival’s official poster
• Sofía E. ALEXANDER(Feature Films category), an animator known for her work as Executive Producer and Creator of the show Onyx Equinox.
• Estrella ARAIZA(TV and Commissioned Films category), General Director of the Guadalajara International Film Festival.

In addition, the Perspectives jury will be composed of 3 young Mexicans from Guadalajara who will be awarding the City of Annecy Award for a Short Film.

The 2023 Official Selection – In Competition:

Mexican animation demonstrates its abundance, and we will discover it in competition in a variety of categories:

• In the Official Short Films selection:
  Flesh of God, by Patricio Plaza (Mexico-Argentina coproduction)
  Smoke (Humo), by Rita Basulto
• In the Off-Limits Short Films selection:
  I Can't Go on Like This by Aria Covamonas from Planet Earth, by Aria Covamonas
• In the Perspectives Short Films selection:
  K8, by Miguel Anaya
  Shifting (Trasiego), by Amanda Woolrich (Mexico-Canada coproduction)
• In the TV Films selection:
  Dr Gecko’s Show (El show del Dr. Gecko "Sex Gender"), by Marcos Almada Rivero
• In the Commissioned Films selection:
  Common Seas "Blood Type: Plastic", by Diego Huacuja (USA-Mexico coproduction)

Mexican animation at Annecy also includes:

Two WIP Feature Films, one of which is Frankelda and the Prince of Spooks (Frankelda y el principe de los sustos) by Roy Ambriz and Arturo Ambriz.

10 teasers made by GOBELINS Paris will have a Mexican theme.

The Mifa is also decked out with Mexico’s colours:

A stand will host numerous studios and schools, in particular the SAE Institute México, Escena, Coco School, ITEMS, CAAV and UNIVA.

Jorge R. Gutierrez, the Mifa Campus’ patron this year, will be presenting a Masterclass on Tuesday 13^th June at 9:00 am.

Throughout the week, numerous events will highlight Mexican animation’s talent and content: Partners Conferences, Partners Pitches, conferences that will be addressing issues on coproduction for example.

As part of the tribute to mexican animation: