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FICG in LA – August 27 – 30

Opening Night Gala – LA Premiere of MESSI directed by Álex de la Iglesia – August 28

Derbez dynasty, Oscar Winner Eugenio Caballero, Ofelia Medina (Mexican actress), Josep Parera (Entertainment Editor La Opinion) and Latino Public Broadcasting to receive the Tree of Life Award.

FICG in LA 2015 adds to the line-up a Kids Gala and Maguey (LGBT) Gala, as well as special screenings dedicated to Human Rights, and Health Issues.

Los Angeles – Today the Guadalajara International Film Festival in Los Angeles (FICG in LA), presented by the University of Guadalajara Foundation in USA and CONACULTA, with Principal Sponsors the University of Guadalajara, the Guadalajara International Film Festival, the Institute of Cinema Mexico (IMCINE), UNIVISION and LA OPINION announced its lineup. MESSI directed by Álex de la Iglesia, will be the opening night film for the 2015 festival. This documentary portrays today’s greatest soccer player who at age 11 ran the risk of seeing his career ending before it started. With informal interviews, re-enactments, and spectacular footage of Messi’s legendary exploits, this film tells the incredible, true story of his rise to glory.

The 2015 FICG in LA, which returns to the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood for its fifth year and runs from Thursday, August 27 to Sunday, August 30, brings the best of contemporary Mexican and Latin American cinema to Los Angeles, and is an extension of the Guadalajara International Film Festival.

Featuring outstanding and award-winning titles from FICG30, which ran from March 6-15, 2015 in Guadalajara, FICG in LA will offer the premiere of other titles that have emerged in the world of cinema throughout the year to great critical acclaim.

The aim of the festival is to increase access and visibility of Mexican and Latin American cinema in the U.S., facilitating the exchange of ideas through stories and issues of cultural and social relevance, create a space for collaboration between filmmakers, and strengthen relations between the film industry in Mexico and the U.S.

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FICG in LA includes film screenings followed by Q&As with filmmakers and talent, as well as galas, panels and special award recognitions to Latin American and U.S. Latino artists.

“FICG in LA 2015 represents the culmination of five years of continuous dedication and passion to further the Latino arts and cinema in the U.S. What was once a tiny three-day showcase of Latino and Ibero-American cinema, is now a lively, eventful film festival, filled with industry events, work-in-progress competitions, family-oriented programs and panel discussions. Los Angeles is the perfect backdrop for FICG in LA to thrive, as it is a patchwork of so many different cultures and communities from across Latin America; however, we hope that our audience is as diverse as the city itself, because many of these stories universally relate to communities of all backgrounds,” said Hebe Tabachnik, Director and Producer of FICG in LA.

“In five years, the Guadalajara International Film Festival in Los Angeles (FICG in LA), has aimed to promote the Mexican and Latin American cinema so that people from elsewhere can enjoy and appreciate the great productions that have been made in Ibero-America; and likewise we have done everything possible to make filmmakers from the US and Canada get interested in addressing Latino themes and help them hone their skills to provide stronger ground for their projects,” said Iván Trujillo Bolio, Director of FICG.

Among the celebrities who have accompanied us in previous editions are: Carlos Cuarón, Edward James Olmos, Sergio Arau, Diana Bracho, Alfonso Arau, Kate del Castillo, Martha Higareda, Beto Cuevas, Irene Azuela, Dulce Maria, Carmen Salinas and Jay Hernandez.

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Eugenio Derbez will receive the Tree of Life Award in representation of the Derbez dynasty. Oscar winner Eugenio Caballero (Best Art Direction, Pan Labyrinth), Ofelia Medina (Mexican actress), Josep Parera (Entertainment Editor La Opinion) and LPB (Latino Public Broadcasting) will also receive the festival’s Tree of Life Award for their contributions to Mexican, Latino and Ibero-American culture. Previous recipients include Demián Bichir (actor), Juan Carlos Arciniegas (CNN en Espanol), Fernando Luján (actor), Rubén Luengas (journalist), Gabriel Beristain (Director of Photography) and Emilio Kauderer (Music Composer).

FICG in LA continues to support Latino and Ibero-American films with Guadalajara Construyein Los Angeles 2 and DocuLab.2Los Angeles by selecting six projects from filmmakers seeking post-production funds. The films will be screened for jury members, sponsors and film industry professionals. The winners will be announced on Friday August 28.

In addition, the winning projects in each competition will automatically qualify to be considered for Guadalajara Construye 10 or DocuLab.8 Guadalajara, or for the Ibero-American Competitions of the next edition of the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG31) – March 4 – 13, 2016.

To reaffirm the social mission of FICG and the University of Guadalajara Foundation in USA, FICG in LA will donate again all of its proceeds to a charitable cause. We will announce soon the recipient of this year’s fundraising effort.

For more on the festival & Special Events and more please visit FICG in LA.

– Originally Posted August 17, 2015.