The Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences (AMACC) reported this Thursday that the serious financial crisis has caused the suspension of the 2023 Ariel Award call until further notice. This means that any registration process for Mexican and Ibero-American films that aspire to get a nomination in the great award ceremony next year is postponed.
In a statement published on social networks, the AMACC General Assembly emphasized that the temporary suspension occurs after years of suffering the decrease in public resources that support the activities of the Academy; among them, his work of recognition, celebration and promotion of the different professional branches of the film industry in Mexico.
“The State, which was the motor and support of the Academy for a long time, has renounced its responsibility as the main promoter and disseminator of culture in general and of cinema in particular,” the letter reads. “Priorities have changed and it seems that culture together with the seventh art are no longer so.”
Leticia Huijara, president of the AMACC, commented in the last edition of Ariel that the organization was indeed facing a very delicate situation; a lacerating problem around the financial aspect. “The precariousness of work, the lack of social security and job insecurity are problems that also affect the cinema and its creators,” she remarked in her speech during the ceremony. This took place on October 11, 2022; the top winner was Fire night by Tatiana Huezo, with her seven awards, including Best Film.
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On the other hand, the AMACC has promised to take the necessary measures in order to succeed with the call for Ariel 2023. And of course, with the rest of its work.
«During the coming months, the Academy will be redirecting its efforts to reorganize the work through its different commissions; but, above all, to rebuild the finances of the organization, seeking to give viability and financial certainty to the academic activities carried out throughout the year and to the delivery of the Ariel », he asserted in the same statement.
And adds:
«We make an attentive call to all sectors to close ranks around the AMACC; to reinforce the cohesion of the cinematographic union and to continue defending, as well as strengthening, this and other spaces for free and independent reflection on Mexican cinema”.
The delivery of the Ariel Award, for the best of Mexican cinema, took place for the first time in May 1947; that is to say, in the middle of the golden age of our cinematography. After thirteen editions, there was a period of suspension of almost fifteen years, until the awards were resumed in August 1972. Since then it has been held annually without interruption.
Antonio G. Spindola I have very bad memory. Out of solidarity with my memories, I choose to lose myself too. Preferably in a movie theater.
