The Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund Recognizes New Mexican Film Projects at the Los Cabos International Film Festival

The Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund awards ceremony was held during the Los Cabos International Film Festival. This initiative is dedicated to supporting first and second feature films by Mexican filmmakers. The ceremony was led by Juan Patricio Riverol, Academic Director of ESCINE, who, along with Alfredo Ruiz, coordinated this edition of the fund. Riverol emphasized the importance of the selection process, mentorship, and pitch sessions as a key formative experience for emerging voices in Mexican cinema.

During the event, it was highlighted that, beyond the awards provided by the various sponsors, the main recognition for the participants was having been selected and mentored by advisors with extensive experience in the industry. These advisors included Jimena Urrutia, Juan Pablo Bastarrechea, and Michelle Lipkes, who closely monitored the development of the projects and shared their expertise with the filmmakers.

The first award of the evening was the Artegeos Prize, which consists of a distribution agreement with the potential to open doors to national and international funding and future co-productions. The selected project was *Al interior del fuego* (Inside the Fire), by Tamara Acuña, which was recognized for its thematic courage and for approaching history from a perspective that seeks to break down stigmas. Upon receiving the award, the director thanked the fund for its support and dedicated the recognition to women who fight for a freer and more just life, highlighting cinema as a tool for telling the truth and raising awareness.

Later, the Art Kingdom Prize was awarded, which includes the professional production of a trailer and poster valued at 290,000 pesos. The winning project was *Africa Express*, by Emilio Guerrero, whose team celebrated the recognition as a demonstration of the power of community and the value of growing alongside other creators within these cinematic exchange spaces.

The Sha-la-há Award, focused on sound post-production, sound design, and mixing services valued at $10,000, was given to El Sinaloense, a project that, according to the jury, portrays a side of Mexico rarely seen on screen. Its director expressed gratitude for the opportunity to present the story of his community and highlighted the human value of the connections forged during the festival.

Later, the Chemistry Award, which includes post-production supervision and color correction, was once again awarded to Al Interior del Fuego. The announcement was received with excitement by its director, who noted that this support reaffirms the importance of persevering even when the path is challenging, and celebrated that the story resonated with various individuals and institutions.

The final award of the evening was the CTT Award, consisting of four weeks of complete filming equipment valued at over 1,270,000 pesos. This award was given to Casa de Guerreras (House of Warriors), by Alejandro Paredes, who thanked the fund, the festival, and everyone who made the documentary possible, highlighting the family and community support behind the project.

The ceremony concluded with a message shared by organizers, sponsors, and filmmakers: the need for the Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund to continue growing as an essential platform for the development of Mexican cinema and for the encounter between stories, perspectives, and communities that find common ground in film.