
Open Call
“Ahora México” Competition
FICUNAM 2024
FICUNAM, the International Film Festival of the National Autonomous University of México, opens its call for the Ahora Mexico competition in its 14th edition.
Ahora México searches for films capable of promoting the collective reading of what is Mexican from the most daring and purposeful cinematography. Edition after edition, Ahora México has established itself in a cardinal space of promotion and reference of contemporary Mexican cinema.
FICUNAM 14 will take place from June 13th to 20th, 2024.
1. Registration for the FICUNAM Ahora México Competition is open to all films with a running length of 25 minutes or more, produced in Mexico from 2023 onwards.
2. In the Ahora México Competition, productions that have a national financial participation or that have been made in the Mexican Republic will be considered eligible.
3. Only films that have not been shown in Mexico City, either commercially or at other exhibitions and film festivals in the city, may participate.
4. Once the invitation has been accepted, the films cannot be withdrawn from the Festival’s programming nor can they be shown at any other event in Mexico City before their official presentation at FICUNAM.
5. The official format for film exhibition is DCP. Exhibition in other formats requires the Festival’s authorization.
6. Producers of winning films, or of those films that receive an honourable mention, establish a commitment to mention the Festival in all their subsequent publicity and press kits by including the FICUNAM logo.
7. Films participating in this call, but not selected for the competition, may be invited to take part in other sections of the Festival, previous authorization by the director, the producer, or the film’s representative.
8. Both the selection by the FICUNAM Committee and the jury decision will be final.
9. This call closes on November 24th, 2023, at 18:00 (Central Time Mexico). The Festival’s Selection Committee has no obligation to watch films submitted beyond this deadline.
10. FICUNAM 14 will be held in person with some virtual content. However, we reserve the right to change all or part of the program to virtual venues in the contingency of an eventuality beyond our control, such as a health emergency or natural contingency.. Such changes will be made with the prior authorization of the films.
11. Registering a film in this call implies the acceptance of this set of rules & regulations.
1. Films selected in the FICUNAM Ahora México Competition will compete for the following awards:
- Puma México for Best Film
Puma statuette by Mexican artist Martín Soto Climent
$150,000.00 MXN (for the director)
2. Films may participate in the allocation of the following parallel prizes:
- TV UNAM Selection
The films of the FICUNAM Ahora México Competition will be able to participate for the prize of $80,000.00 Mexican pesos in exchange for the broadcasting rights of the film for a year and a half, for a maximum of two exhibitions, on the University’s television channel, TV UNAM. The first screening will be broadcast during the week immediately after the award ceremony. The award will be given to the producer. Specific conditions will be posed to the selected films.
* In the event that there is more than one producer, the award will be delivered to the responsible producer designated for this purpose.
- UNAM Churubusco Stimulus Award
The directors of the FICUNAM Ahora México Competition will be able to participate for the prize of $800,000.00 MXN in post-production services for their next film. Specific conditions will be posed for the selected films.
- LCI SEGUROS Award
Voucher for a 50% discount in the hiring of a film insurance with the company LCI Seguros, for the next film by the selected director. This award will be given by the Fósforo Jury.
- Prize from other sponsors who join the project
1. To register for the FICUNAM Ahora México Competition it is necessary to send the following material before November 24th, 2023, at 18:00 (Central Time Mexico):
- Complete online entry form (available at the Festival website: www.ficunam.unam.mx)
- An online-available version of the film with access password
Important: It is needed to specify whether this version is a final cut or a work in progress.
1. For the Festival catalogue and promotion, send the following material:
- Director’s statement in Spanish and/or English
- Bio-filmography of the film’s director
- Photo of the director
- Full film credits
- Technical specifications
- High-resolution photograms of the film (300 dpi)
- Poster and/or press kit (if available), printed and in digital format
2. For screening the selected films, submit the following material to the Festival:
- DCP screening copy of the film
- All DCP materials must be delivered under the current DCI norms, HDD formatted under DCI specifications, frame rate, aspect ratio and properly named content. In case of having a different screening digital format, the Festival is willing to offer an alternative.
- Films must have 100% understanding in Spanish and English. All this in the same version of the film
- Back-up Blu-ray copy with English subtitles
- Back-up Blu-ray copy without subtitles
3. If there is any particular specification regarding the setting up or checking of the copy of a film, this must be informed by means of a note written by the producer at the time of delivering the material.
4. Participating works must deliver a promotional set of images for the film. If this material is not submitted, the Festival will be allowed to copy photograms and fragments (up to 3 minutes long) of the selected films for promotion purposes on the Festival’s webpage and other mass media.
1. In case the film is selected, it is recommended sending the copy in digital format. Otherwise, all the shipping costs will be borne by the participant. Material with surcharges will not be accepted.
2. The sender must inform FICUNAM about the sending date and the guide number of the exhibition copy. Also, the participant must consult the necessary documentation for the shipment according to the regulations of each country.
3. All materials must be sent to the following address:
Dirección General de Actividades Cinematográficas (Filmoteca-UNAM)
Oficina del FICUNAM
Circuito Mario de la Cueva S/N Ciudad Universitaria
04510 Ciudad de México, México.
1. The Festival will organise a digital collection with programmed films. This research and educational space will only be open for students and professionals authorised by the Festival.
2. Throughout the year, the Festival will organise exhibitions in cultural spaces and educational institutions in Mexico City and throughout Mexico offering a selection of films screened during its most recent edition. In all cases, previous authorization for screening will be asked.
Cases not foreseen in this call or derived from it will be resolved by the Organising Committee of FICUNAM in accordance with the applicable regulations and the Code of Ethics of the UNAM.
AHORA MÉXICO
ENTRY FORM
Cases not foreseen in this call or derived from it will be resolved by the Organizing Committee of FICUNAM in accordance with the applicable regulations and the Code of Ethics of the UNAM.
Information +52 55 5622 9595
ficunam@fic.unam.mx