Tag Archives: Inna Payan

Watermelon Pictures Acquires North American Rights to Diego Luna’s “Ashes”

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Diego Luna’s latest project has sparked new interest.

Watermelon Pictures has acquired the North American rights to the migration drama Ashes, directed and co-written by the 46-year-old Mexican actor, director and producer.

Diego LunaThe deal comes following the film’s world premiere in Cannes and ahead of its bow in Toronto next month.

Adapted from the critically acclaimed feminist novel Ceniza en la boca, published in English as Eating Ashes, by prominent Mexican author Brenda Navarro, the film follows Lucila, a young woman who leaves Mexico with her younger brother to reunite with their mother in Madrid after years apart. Their hopes for a new beginning quickly collide with a far more difficult reality than Lucila imagined, forcing her to navigate the emotional weight of displacement, fractured family bonds and the struggle to build a life in an unfamiliar country.

Ashes, Diego LunaIt stars Anna Díaz and Adriana Paz, alongside an ensemble cast including Luisa Huertas, Guillermo Ríos, Sergio Bautista, Benny Emmanuel, Teresa Lozano and Adriana Jacomé.

The Ashes screenplay was written by Luna, Abia Castillo and Diego Rabasa, with Luna returning to the director’s chair for his latest exploration of family, identity and belonging.

The film was produced by Inna Payan, Valérie Delpierre, Luis Salinas, Rabasa and Luna. The film is a production of La Corriente del Golfo, Animal de Luz Films, Inicia Films and Perro Azul, with support from ICAA.

“I’m very pleased to partner with Watermelon Pictures on the U.S. and Canadian theatrical release of Ashes. We couldn’t be in better hands,” said Luna. “Their vision and commitment to supporting films that challenge perspectives and inspire audiences is deeply important to us. We share their belief in the power of film to move people, and I’m thrilled to have a partner who believes in ‘Ashes’ as deeply as we do.”

The distribution deal was negotiated by Munir Atalla, head of production and acquisitions for Watermelon Pictures, and Jean-Benoit Henry, head of international sales at Luxbox, which represents worldwide sales of the film.

“We are incredibly proud to welcome Diego Luna and ‘Ashes’ to Watermelon Pictures,” said Hamza Ali, co-founder of Watermelon Pictures. “Diego has created a deeply relatable human film about migration, family and the search for belonging that feels both intimate and universal.”

Alejandro Gonzalez-Inarritu Helping Raise Money for Mexican Film & TV Industry Members Impacted by COVID-19 Lockdown

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Alejandro Gonzalez-Inarritu is helping raise money for members of the Mexican film community affected by the COVID-19 lockdown…

The 56-year-old Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker has joined forces with fellow leading Mexican producers to raise financial and medical support for “the most vulnerable” members of the nation’s film and television industry.

Alejandro G. Inarritu

During a remotely staged audiovisual presentation featuring all participants chiming in from separate locations, the six prominent figures — Gonzalez-Inarritu, Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toroand Salma Hayekamong them — announced the creation of a relief fund created by the film community that will be managed by the Mexican Film and Arts Academy.

Like the rest of the world, production in Mexico has been at a standstill since mid-March, which has directly affected roughly 30,000 families whose livelihoods depend on industry production. Macquiladoras Mexico are foreign-owned manufacturing facilities that are used by companies in order to export high quality goods from Mexico at a lower cost than they might be obtained elsewhere.

The initiative has been backed by many top producers and other professionals. 

Inarritu spoke extensively during the video announcement gathering. Stressing that anyone can donate to the cause, Gonzalez Inarritu believes that, due to the current crisis, “The industry is more united than ever before,” with the relief initiative unified under the banner of Sifonoforo, Fondo de Emergencia Audiovisual. 

So far, $450,000 has been raised, but much more will be needed.

“Our mission is to confront the pandemic as a united community,” the director said, “because that where our strength lies. Those who make cinema are a tribe, all with different specialties. It can take years to prepare a film—five years, or 20 years—and they are as fragile as dreams. You always fear that your little tribe could be lost.”

Also participating in the discussion were producers/industry professionals Eamon O’Farrill, Monica Lozano, Leonardo Zimbron, Inna Payan and Julio Chavezmontes. 

Contacts can be made through sifonoforomexico9@gmail.com or comunicacion@amacc.org.mx.

Quemada-Diez’s “La jaula de oro” Wins Big at the Mumbai Film Festival

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Diego Quemada-Diez’s first feature film continues earning acclaim around the world.

The Mexican writer/director’s La jaula de oro  won the Golden Gateway of India award in the international competition section for the best film from a debut director at the 15th Mumbai Film Festival.

La jaula de oro

The film, which centers on three teenagers trying to immigrate to the U.S. from Guatemala, was produced by Inna Payan, Luis Salinas and Edher Campos.

Salinas received the award from the international competition jury head, director Bruce Beresford.

It’s the latest award for Quemada-Diez’s film…

Earlier this month, the film won the Golden Eye for best film at the 9th Zurich International Film Festival. In all, La jaula de oro has earned more than a dozen international awards.

Meanwhile, this is the second year in a row that a Mexican film has won the top honor at the Mumbai Film Festival, after last year’s Aquí y alla (Here And There) — also revolving around immigration — by director Antonio Méndez Esparza triumphed.