Jodie Foster, Juliette Binoche, Stellan Skarsgård Members at Morelia

Newcomers triumphed on the 23^rd Morelia Film Festival (FICM) on October 17, where a large number of first feature films took home the top prizes this edition. Pablo Pérez Lombardini’s environmental thriller ‘The Reserve’ (‘La reserva’) won the prize for Best Feature Film, Director and Actress (Carolina Guzmán).

Pérez Lombardini’s feature film debut first attracted attention last year during Ventana Sur. He not only takes home Ojo statuettes but also receives awards in cash and kind.

Based on true testimonies from environmental activists, ‘The Reserve’ follows a forest ranger’s unflinching fight to protect the forest surrounding her remote village. Filmed with non-pros in a rural community in Chiapas, the photo captures the urgent, ongoing struggle that conservationists across Latin America face.

This edition the competition consisted of more than 100 films. Hailed by Alfonso Cuarón as “a cultural monument not only for Morelia but for all of Mexico” and by Guillermo del Toro as “an essential platform for Mexico and global cinema… and one of the most important cultural events in the world”, the festival was founded and continues to be led by Daniela Michel.

The festival, which started on October 10 and ends on October 19, featured a constellation of international guests presenting their films throughout the week. Among them were Stellan Skarsgård (“Sentimental Value”), Juliette Binoche (“In-I: In Motion”), Jodie Foster (“Vieprive”), Gael García Bernal (“Amores Perros” 25th Anniversary), Kleber Mendonça Filho (“The Secret Agent”), Rodrigo García (“The Follies)”, Jafar Panahi (“It Was Just an Accident”), Charlie Kaufman (“How to Shoot a Ghost”), Cherien Dabis (“All That’s Left of You”), Lucrecia Martel (“Nuestra tierra”), Robin Campillo (“Enzo”) and Oliver Laxe (“Sirât”).

The Ojo Prize for Best Screenplay went to Karen Plata for her work on newcomer Ernesto Martínez Bucio’s childhood survival story “The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box),” which took home the Best First Feature Award at the Berlinale’s inaugural Perspectives section.

Meanwhile, David Pablo’s ‘On the Road’, fresh from the big win in Venice, took home the cinematographic Ojo Prize for its DP Ximena Amann and Best Actors for its leads, Víctor Miguel Prieto and Osvaldo Sánchez.

Actress Mayra Hermosillo won the all-important Audience Award for her feature debut “Vanilla,” which also had its world premiere in Venice, while Richard Linklater scored the International Audience Award for his “Nouvelle Vague.”

Indira Cato’s Mexican documentary section ‘Being Olimpia’ (‘Llamarse Olimpia’), about Olimpia Coral Melo who campaigned against cybersex violence and became a feminist icon, won the Ojo Prize, which also comes with cash and friendly prizes.

Among the Pics-in-Post seeking post-production awards in the festival’s industry section, Impulso Morelia, Dano Garcia’s ‘Mickey’ from female-led Chicken & Egg Films, took home three awards.

The jury led by Ava DuVernay (chairman) selected the following winners in addition to Pablo Berger, David Linde and Andrea Pallaoro:

Ojo Award for Best Mexican Feature Film

“The Reserve” (“La reserva” by Pablo Pérez Lombardini)

Ojo Award for Best Direction in a Mexican Feature Film

Pablo Pérez Lombardini, for “The Reserve” (“La reserva”)

Casa Wabi-Escine Award for a first time director

Nuria Ibáñez Castañeda, “The Guardian” (“El guardian”)

Best Cinematography in a Mexican Feature Film

Ximena Amann, for “On the Road” (“En el camino” by David Pablos)

Best Screenplay in a Mexican Feature Film

Karen Plata, for Ernesto Martinez Bucio’s “The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box)” (“El diablo fuma (y guarda las cabezas de los cerillos quemados en la misma caja)”

Ojito Award for Best Actress in a Mexican Feature Film

Carolina Guzmán, for “The Reserve” (“La reserva”)

Ojito Award for Best Actor in a Mexican Feature Film

Víctor Miguel Prieto and Osvaldo Sánchez, for “On the Road” (“En el camino”)

Audience Award for international feature film

‘Novelle Vague’, Richard Linklater

Audience Award for feature film with Mexican fiction

“Vanilla” (“Vainilla, Mayra Hermosillo)

Special mention in Mexican feature film

Basilio Moncada, for his appearance in “The Guardian” (“El Guardian”)

MEXICAN DOCUMENTARY (Jury: B. Ruby Rich, Andrei Ujică and Kathy Geritz)

Best Mexican Documentary Film

‘Being Olimpia’ (‘Llamarse Olimpia’, Indira Cato)

Audience Award

“My Benjamin” (“Mi Benjamin” Victoria Clay-Mendoza)

IMPULSO MORELIA 11

Panel: Ava Cahen, Cristian Calónico, Benjamín Domenech, Cédric Succivalli and Alberto Valverde.

Caffeine Post-Production Awards:

Splendid Omnia Studio Awards:

Estudios Churubusco Prize:

José María Riba Prize: “Chicas tristes,” Fernanda Tovar.