Mexico

As a young woman, Eufrosina Cruz Mendoza decided to embark on a campaign to break the cycle of teenage pregnancy and domestic poverty that she saw growing up in Santa María Quiegolani, Oaxaca. To this end, the charismatic Eufrosina ran for town mayor in 2007, but her victory was rejected because she was a woman. Determined not to be ignored, she began a personal crusade for gender equality in indigenous communities, questioning the current system of “Uses and Customs” and becoming a controversial icon for many women.

The ruggedly beautiful Fogo Island lies off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. In this remote corner of Canada, traces of Elizabethan English and Old Irish dialects may still be heard, and remnants of ancient folk customs shape the lives of its inhabitants. However, in recent years, economic hardship has taken a toll, forcing many to leave. Homes once full of fiddle music, are now decaying, becoming part of the tundra landscape.

The ruggedly beautiful Fogo Island lies off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. In this remote corner of Canada, traces of Elizabethan English and Old Irish dialects may still be heard, and remnants of ancient folk customs shape the lives of its inhabitants. However, in recent years, economic hardship has taken a toll, forcing many to leave. Homes once full of fiddle music, are now decaying, becoming part of the tundra landscape.

Pachuca, 1956. Brothers Arturo and Gustavo Martínez leave their hometown in central Mexico with the desire to cross the continent on bicycles. Eighty-two days and 5,600 km later, they arrive in Toronto, not knowing that this journey will change the entire route of their lives. Ever since director Andrea Martínez Crowther can remember, stories of her father and uncle’s trip have formed part of her family’s folklore. Over half a century later, Arturo and Gustavo - now in their 70s - retrace that epic path, in an exploration of memory, the cycles of life and the unavoidable passage of time.

A complicated relationship develops between Alejandra, an established literary editor, and María, a precocious student in her last year of high school. At first, the sexual chemistry creates an illusion of compatibility, however it is not long before Alejandra’s requests for candlelit dinners and conversations about books conflict with María’s desire to party until dawn. Filmed in black and white with a nod to the New Wave films of the 60s and 70s, this film has a retro visual style that cleverly mirrors the stifling pretension and hedonistic naiveté of its main characters.

Juan Carlos and Juan Manuel, rivals in love, arrange a battle on
bicycles to achieve their goal: Paola’s love.

Lucy, a seven-year-old girl, is curious to know if the voice of a person can expire and if so, could that be the reason why her grandfather does not speak. To find the answer, she decides to undertake a risky experiment, defying the strict rules of Aunt Rosa.

An adolescent girl is torn between her grandmother’s pressure to rediscover her Mayan roots and the life she believes her recently deceased mother wanted for her in New York. Her decision could tear her family apart.

A complicated relationship develops between Alejandra, an established literary editor, and María, a precocious student in her last year of high school. At first, the sexual chemistry creates an illusion of compatibility, however it is not long before Alejandra’s requests for candlelit dinners and conversations about books conflict with María’s desire to party until dawn. Filmed in black and white with a nod to the New Wave films of the 60s and 70s, this film has a retro visual style that cleverly mirrors the stifling pretension and hedonistic naiveté of its main characters.

Everyone in the town of San Miguel Nenepilco knows that since being a boy, Agent Jesus Juárez (aka Chucho) has always represented the Devil in their traditional Pastorela (Shepherds’ Play). Hence, this Christmas all hell breaks loose when the new parish priest, the exorcist Father Mundo, gives the role to someone else. Chucho must stage an epic battle between good and evil to recover what by tradition belongs solely to him. Pastorela is a rollicking comedy that pokes fun at some of Mexico’s most time-honoured religious institutions and customs.