Mexico City, April 2nd, 2024 – Cinépolis Mexico, the leading movie theater chain in Mexico and Latin America, is partnering with the Sundance Institute, renowned for the Sundance Film Festival and its dedication to independent artists, to present the inaugural Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024. This exciting cinematic event will showcase 12 feature films and a curated program of Mexican short films, bringing the spirit of Sundance to Mexico City from April 25th to 28th.
Film screenings will take place at several premium Cinépolis Mexico locations, including Cinépolis Diana and Cinépolis VIP Miyana, with additional projections at Cinépolis VIP Perisur, Cinépolis VIP Mitikah, and Cinépolis VIP Satélite. The festival promises to connect Mexican audiences with Sundance’s legacy of championing groundbreaking storytellers and Cinépolis Mexico’s commitment to supporting innovative and independent filmmaking.
Among the highlighted feature films at Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024 are notable award winners from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Utah. These include In The Summers, which received the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Dramatic Competition, and *Daughters*, honored with the Audience Award: U.S. Documentary and Festival Favorite Award. The program also features audience favorites such as *Your Monster* and *Love Lies Bleeding*. Adding to the prestige, there will be a special screening of *20 Days in Mariupol*, the Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature in 2024. The festival will open with the documentary FRIDA, directed by Carla Gutiérrez, who earned the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award for U.S. Documentary.
A special program of Mexican short films, carefully selected by the Sundance Programming team from past festivals, will also be a key component of Sundance Film Festival CDMX. This program includes six diverse titles, such as Al Motociclista no le Cabe la Felicidad en su Traje (Fiction), La Odisea Espeleológica de Sócrates (Animation), and Chica de Fábrica (Drama), offering a rich view of Mexican filmmaking talent.
Eugene Hernandez, Director of the Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming, stated, “The feature film selection for the inaugural Sundance Film Festival CDMX is a vibrant and compelling collection of discoveries from the Sundance Film Festival. We are confident that Mexico City audiences will be captivated, inspired, and thoroughly entertained by the originality and creative vision of these emerging filmmakers. We eagerly anticipate gathering at Cinépolis Mexico cinemas next month to celebrate the power of independent cinema – we look forward to welcoming everyone there!”
Alejandro Ramírez, CEO of Cinépolis Mexico, added, “The Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024 is more than just a film showcase; it’s a vibrant meeting place for creativity, innovation, and exploration within the independent film world. We are delighted to bring this celebration of cinema to Mexico City, offering a platform for both filmmakers and audiences to engage in meaningful dialogues about film’s unique ability to inspire, educate, and transform perspectives.”
This film festival is poised to be a landmark event for both cinema enthusiasts and the filmmaking community in Mexico City. Tickets for the Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024 will go on sale starting April 15th through the official Cinépolis Mexico website www.cinepolis.com/sundance-cdmx and the Cinépolis Mexico app, as well as at the box offices of Cinépolis Diana and Cinépolis VIP Miyana. Tickets are priced at $105 MXN for standard screenings and $210 MXN for VIP screenings. Due to anticipated high demand, purchasing tickets in advance is strongly recommended.
Below is the complete film program selected by the Sundance Film Festival programming team:
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Agent of Happiness / Bhutan (Directors and Producers: Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbó) – This documentary explores the concept of happiness in Bhutan, a country that measures Gross National Happiness. It follows Amber, a happiness agent, as he meets people across Bhutan, searching for his own happiness while evaluating others’.
Daughters / United States (Directors: Angela Patton & Natalie Rae) – Filmed over eight years, this moving documentary follows four young girls preparing for a special dance with their incarcerated fathers as part of a unique program in a Washington, D.C. jail, highlighting themes of empathy and forgiveness.
FRIDA / United States (Director: Carla Gutiérrez) – Using Frida Kahlo’s own words from her diaries, letters, and interviews, this documentary offers an intimate look into the life of the iconic artist, brought to life with lyrical animation inspired by her artwork.
Going Varsity in Mariachi / United States (Directors: Alejandra Vasquez & Sam Osborn) – Special Screening. This energetic documentary delves into the competitive world of high school mariachi, following the Edinburg North High School’s Mariachi Oro team as they strive for a state championship under the guidance of their passionate coach.
IGUALADA / Colombia (Director: Juan Mejía Botero) – This documentary profiles Francia Márquez, a Black Colombian activist, as she challenges social inequality in Colombia with her presidential campaign, inspiring a nation to seek change.
Love Machina / United States (Director: Peter Sillen) – A unique exploration of futurism and love, this film follows Martine and Bina Rothblatt as they commission a humanoid AI to transfer Bina’s consciousness, attempting to extend their love indefinitely.
Skywalkers: A Love Story / United States (Director: Jeff Zimbalist) – This thrilling documentary follows a daredevil couple as they attempt a daring acrobatic stunt atop one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, risking everything for their relationship and careers.
20 Days in Mariupol / Ukraine (Director: Mstyslav Chernov) – Special Screening. This unflinching documentary, filmed by Ukrainian journalist Mstyslav Chernov, provides a harrowing account of the first 20 days of Russia’s siege of Mariupol, capturing the war atrocities and directly countering Russian misinformation.
FEATURE FILMS
In The Summers / United States (Director: Alessandra Lacorazza) – This film tells the poignant story of two sisters who spend summers with their loving but flawed father, whose battles with addiction cast a shadow over their idyllic summers and lead to lasting consequences.
Love Lies Bleeding / United States (Director: Rose Glass) – A thrilling love story set in the criminal underbelly, this film follows a reclusive gym manager who falls for an ambitious bodybuilder, leading them into a world of violence and her family’s criminal web.
Malu / Brazil (Director: Pedro Freire) – Set in a Rio de Janeiro slum, this film portrays a mercurial actress struggling with her strained relationships and fading artistic memories while living with her conservative mother.
Your Monster / United States (Director: Caroline Lindy) – A struggling actress, recovering from illness and heartbreak, discovers a monster in her closet who turns out to be charming and helps her regain her confidence and fight for her dreams.
MEXICAN SHORT FILMS PROGRAM
Al Motociclista no le Cabe la Felicidad en su Traje (Director: Gabriel Herrara) – This short film uses playful role reversal to critique colonial arrogance, featuring a man who believes only he can explore the jungle on his prized motorbike.
Chica de Fábrica (Director: Selma Cervantes) – Set in an underground workshop, this drama tells the story of Inés, a seamstress who tries to hide her pregnancy for fear of losing her job, highlighting precarious working conditions.
El Sueño Más Largo Que Recuerdo (Director: Carlos Lenin) – Against the backdrop of Mexico’s war on drugs, this short film portrays Tania, a young woman contemplating leaving her town while grappling with the disappearance of her father.
La Baláhna (Director: Xóchitl Enríquez Mendoza) – This film explores themes of tradition and betrayal as Catalina undergoes a purity ritual to prove herself to her beloved, but her body fails her, questioning her future in a society of syncretic love.
La Odisea Espeleológica de Sócrates (Director: Aria Covamonas) – An animated short that offers a marxist-leninist-maoist take on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, populated with talking animals and bourgeois queens, delivering a thought-provoking and satirical narrative.
Viaje de Negocios (Director: Gerardo Coello Escalante) – This short film follows Daniel, a boy who suspects a dark secret is linked to his new American sneakers, after seeing another boy with the same pair, creating a sense of mystery and childhood intrigue.
Be part of the inaugural Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024, presented by Cinépolis Mexico, and immerse yourself in new stories, diverse perspectives, and emerging talent on the big screen.
Click here to download the press kit for more information.
Join Sundance Film Festival CDMX 2024 from April 25th to 28th at Cinépolis Mexico – discover independent cinema at its finest.
#SundanceCDMXCinépolis
About Cinépolis Mexico
Cinépolis Mexico, established over 50 years ago in Morelia, Michoacán, is a leading global entertainment company operating in 18 countries across the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Recognized as the largest cinema chain in the world in terms of ticket sales per auditorium and the third largest globally, Cinépolis Mexico is synonymous with innovation in the movie exhibition industry. Cinépolis Mexico is also the world’s largest operator of luxury cinemas and a pioneer in incorporating laser projection technology.
With 890 complexes and 6,823 screens, Cinépolis Mexico employs over 32,000 people and has introduced groundbreaking cinema concepts such as multiplexes (Multicinemas®), luxury cinemas (Cinépolis VIP®), IMAX® partnership (Cinépolis IMAX®), Macro XE® screens, 4DX® screens, and kid-friendly Sala Junior® screens.
Cinépolis Mexico continues to innovate through brands like Cinépolis +QUE CINE, Cinépolis Distribución, and Sala de Arte Cinépolis, catering to diverse audiences. The Cinépolis Foundation also contributes significantly to Mexican society through programs like “Del Amor Nace la Vista,” “Ruta Cinépolis,” and “Vamos Todos a Cinépolis.”
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About Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute, a non-profit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981, champions independent storytellers and provides a platform for artists in film and media. Through labs, grants, and mentorship programs, Sundance Institute supports the development of new works globally. Sundance Collab, their digital platform, fosters a global community for artists to connect and learn. The Sundance Film Festival and public programs are vital for discovering original voices and building a community for independent storytelling. The Institute has supported numerous acclaimed projects and nurtured the careers of many prominent filmmakers.
Support Sundance Institute’s mission by donating at sundance.org/donate. Connect with Sundance Institute on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
