Monterrey International Film Festival celebrates 20 years with new industry programs

A milestone celebration in Monterrey

The Monterrey International Film Festival is marking its 20th edition with a series of exciting new initiatives and a robust lineup of films. This year’s event, scheduled from September 25 to October 2 at Parque Fundidora, promises to elevate the festival’s international profile with the introduction of two new industry programs: WIP Monterrey and ProMeetings.

A new era for the festival

Under the leadership of festival board president Lorena Villarreal, the festival aims to showcase a selection of world-class films from prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Tribeca, and Sundance. Villarreal emphasizes the festival’s role as a bridge between the U.S., Iberoamerica, and Mexico, while also supporting the local industry in Nuevo Leon. Notable films to be featured include Andrea Arnold’s Bird, Agathe Riedinger’s debut film Wild Diamond, the Sundance-winning documentary Sugarcane by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, and Piero Messina’s Another End.

Strengthening the team

In line with its expansion plans, the festival has bolstered its team with the recent hires of Diana Cobos as general manager and LA-based Mexican producer Eva Ruiz de Chávez as industry manager. Abraham González continues as head of programming, and Álvar Carretero remains as head of International PR & Talent.

Embracing youthful energy

“This year, we are not only commemorating our past but also driving the festival toward a future filled with fresh, innovative, and daring voices,” said Cobos. She highlighted the youthful energy of Nuevo León, which is reflected in both the programming and the festival’s overall personality. Given the city’s robust student population, the festival’s audience is predominantly young, making the award for Best Student Short Film particularly significant.

A diverse lineup

Programming head González is overseeing the curation of approximately 70 titles, with the full lineup to be announced on August 15. The festival features eight competitive categories, ranging from international and Mexican features to documentaries and shorts, including a category for films shot in Monterrey’s region of Nuevo Leon.

Opening and closing films

Arnold’s Bird will open the festival, while Messina’s Another End will close it. Both films are making their Latin American premieres.

Mexican premieres

Other key titles making their Mexican premieres include Laetitia Dosch’s Dog on Trial, Elizabeth Sankey’s documentary Witches, and Chris Andrews’ thriller Bring Them Down.

Introducing Monterrey Classics

The festival is launching a new section called Monterrey Classics, which will showcase iconic international and Mexican films. This year’s highlight is Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas, which was digitally restored and premiered as part of Cannes Classics.

New industry programs

With the inaugural Work in Progress (WIP Monterrey) and ProMeetings programs, the festival’s nascent industry section aims to serve as a conduit between the entertainment industries in the U.S., Mexico, and Iberoamerica.

WIP Monterrey

WIP Monterrey supports films in post-production from first and second-time filmmakers exploring themes of representation, diversity, and social issues. The program offers comprehensive post-production, distribution, and marketing support. The submission window is open from July 15 to August 15, with around 20 entries received so far.

ProMeetings

ProMeetings, scheduled for September 26-29, provides networking and co-production opportunities for projects in development. Seven feature film projects and seven series will be selected to be presented to producers, distributors, and financiers worldwide. These projects will compete for various awards geared towards their international circulation and development.

Building cultural bridges

“This year, we not only celebrate innovation and creative diversity in cinema but also reinforce our commitment to the sustainable growth of Nuevo León’s film industry and, by extension, to the Mexican industry,” said Ruiz de Chávez. She emphasized the importance of building cultural bridges, especially as U.S. Latino creatives face more challenges at home.

Support and sponsorship

Supported by substantial contributions from state, local, and private sources, along with some federal funding, the festival seeks to establish itself as Mexico’s leading international film festival and a major creative hub within the country. Key allies and sponsors for the 20th edition include the Secretaría de Cultura del Gobierno de México, Secretaría de Cultura de Nuevo León, Secretaría de Turismo de Nuevo León, Embassy of France in Mexico, LVT, Barraca, Canacine Nuevo León, Cinépolis, Parque Fundidora, Grupo Milenio, Publimetro, Sigma, and the main universities in the region: TEC de Monterrey, UDEM, UANL, and UNICA.

A promising future

As Monterrey continues to grow as a business and industrial center, the festival’s potential is further enhanced by the city’s high per-capita income. With a strong foundation and a clear vision for the future, the Monterrey International Film Festival is poised to become a significant player on the global stage.

For more information on the films mentioned, you can watch the trailers for Bird, Wild Diamond, Sugarcane, Another End, Dog on Trial, Witches, and Bring Them Down.