Thursday, June 22, 2017

MEXICO'S "THE NIGHT GUARD" WINS LA FILM FESTIVAL

By José Alberto Hermosillo
El Vigilante Team  Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA

Los Angeles, California, June 22, 2017. The organizers of the Los Angeles Film Festival, produced by Film Independent, announced the winners in all the categories. 
LA Film Festival. Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA

The most prominent surprise was the World Fiction Award, which went to Mexico’s “The Night Guard” (“El Vigilante”) directed by Diego Ros. 
 El Vigilante Q&A Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA

“The Night Guard” or “El Vigilante” is an unpretentious, beautiful film set in one location over one night. The intense thriller had the spectators on the edge of their seats, eager to know what would happen next, with unexpected twists and turns that make this minimalist yet haunting story hard to forget.
El Vigilante producer  Yossy Zagha, director Diego Ros and actor Ari Gallegos. Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA
This film has a very subtle expressionistic reflection of today’s Mexican reality. The story is told from a much more optimistic and brave generation of Mexican actors and filmmakers.
El Vigilante, actors Ari Gallegos and Leonardo Alonso, Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA

The performance of the young actor Leonardo Alonso (“Sin Nombre,” “Espiral”) is terrific. He plays a naive yet responsible security guard on a construction site. He is finishing his shift and wants to go home with his family, but strange circumstances keep him there for the rest of the night, almost like in Luis Buñuel’s “The Exterminating Angel.” Newcomer Ari Gallegos is great in a supporting role. 

Nocturne (l.) music composer Carlos Ayhllón and his brother (r.) director Luis Ayhllón. Photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, FestivalinLA

This year, the presence of Mexican films at the LA Film Festival was strong, with two other excellent projects, including “Nocturne/Norturno” by Luis Ayhllón. The festival also featured compelling performances by Juan Carlos Colombo (“Cantinflas,” “Nora’s Will”) and Irela De Villers, whose performance was sublime.

El Vecino (The Neighbor). Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA

Also in the Nightfall Competition, ‘El Vecino/The Neighbor’ premiered.’
El Vecino (The Neighbor) actor Paco Mifote and director Giancarlo Ruiz. Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA

“El  Vecino” is a mind-blowing experimental film, directed by Giancarlo Ruiz with the extraordinary performance of Paco Mifote (“Northless/Norteado”). The entire project was shot in Tijuana, as if it were an island in the middle of nowhere. Highly recommended!

Actress Auden Thornton won a special mention Breakout Performance award for her amazing interpretation of Angie in ‘Beauty Mark.’ She plays a young single mother who has to take care of her alcoholic mother and her three-year-old son, and who was abused when she was a child. Auden Thornton’s performance is fantastic. 
El Vigilante Team  Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA


THE LA FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS:
LA Film Fest Posters. Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA

UUSFiction Award: “Becks” by Elizabeth Rohrbaugh and Daniel Powell. 

UUSFiction Cinematography Award presented by Aputere:  Cinematographers Christian Sorensen Hansen and Pete Ohs for “Everything Beautiful is Far Away.”
Everything Beautiful is Far Away. Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA 

World Fiction Award: “The Night Guard  (El Vigilante) by Diego Ros.
Documentary Award: Amanda Kopp and Aaron Kopp for “Liyana.”

“And Then There Was Eve.” Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA

LA Muse Awards Fiction: Savannah Bloch for “And Then There Was Eve.”

LA Muse Documentary Award: Mark Hayes for “Skid Row Marathon.”

Nightfall Award: “Serpent” directed by Amanda Evans.

Award for Short Fiction: “A Funeral for Lightning, directed by Emily Kai Bock. 
Award for Short Documentary: “Black America Again” by Bradford Young. 

Audience Award for Documentary Feature Film: “Skid Row Marathon,” directed by Mark Hayes.

Audience Award for Fiction Feature Film: “The Keeping Hours,” directed by Karen Moncrieff.

Audience Award for Short Film: “Swim,” directed by Mari Walker. 
Audience Award for Web Series: “High & Mighty,” directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada.

A special prize was given to this year’s Guest Director, Miguel Arteta (“Chuck & Buck,” “The Good Girl,” “Beatriz at Dinner”), with the “Spirit of Independence Award Festival.” 

 Congratulations to all the winners and participants.

Replace. Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA
Desolation, cast & crew. Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA
Counterpunch Cast. Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA
 “And Then I Go.” Photo by José Hermosillo © 2017 FESTIVAL IN LA.

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Copyright © 2017 Festival in LA 

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