March 27, 2008--Carlos Reygadas' tale of love and betrayal "Silent Light" won five Golden Ariels including best picture, director and screenplay at the Mexican Film Academy Awards Tuesday night.
Winner of the 2007 Cannes Jury Prize, "Silent Light" depicts the little-known world of Mennonites settled in northern Mexico and a father who risks losing his family and community to follow his heart. The film was nominated for nine awards.
Top acting awards went out to Irene Azuela for "Quemar las naves" (Burn the Bridges) and to Jorge Zarate "Dos abrazos" (Two Embraces).
The academy gave Ernesto Contreras' dramedy "Parpados azules" (Blue Eyelids) the prize for first work.
Another winner was up-and-comer Lemon Films' horror pic "Kilometro 31" (Kilometer 31) directed by Rigoberto Castaneda and which grabbed five statues in technical categories including sound, makeup and visual effects.
Also winning big, Everardo Gonzalez's "Los ladrones viejos" (The Old Thieves) took home awards for documentary and editing.
Winners of the Ariels Film Awards:
PICTURE Luz silenciosa
DIRECTOR Carlos Reygadas for Luz silenciosa
FIRST WORK Parpados azules for Ernesto Contreras
ACTRESS Irene Azuela for Quemar las naves
ACTOR Jorge Zarate for Dos abrazos
SUPPORTING ACTRESS Maria Pankratz for Luz silenciosa
SUPPORTING ACTOR Mario Zaragoza for La zona
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Carolos Reygadas for Luz silenciosa
CINEMATOGRAPHY Alexis Zabe for Luz silenciosa
EDITING Juan Manuel Figueroa for Los ladrones viejos
SOUND Nerio Barberis, Saul Cantero for Kilometro 31
ORIGINAL SCORE Jose Alfredo Rangel, Alejandro Giacoman for Quemar las naves
ART DIRECTION Jos Luis Aguilar, Lorenza Manrique for Morirse en Domingo
MAKEUP Benito for Kilometro 31
COSTUME DESIGN Mariestela Fernndez for Kilometro 31
VISUAL EFFECTS Roberto Garcia, Charlie Vazques for Kilometro 31
SPECIAL EFFECTS Alejandro Vazques for Kilometro 31
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Los ladrones viejos, Everardo Gonzalez
ANIMATED FEATURE La leyenda de la nahuala, Ricardo Amaiz
FICTION SHORT (TIE) Fin de trayecto, Acan Coen Ver llover, Elisa Miller
DOCUMENTARY SHORT De motus cordis, Mariana Ochoa
ANIMATED SHORT De la vista nace amor, Miguel Anaya Borja
IBEROAMERICAN PICTURE XXY (Argentina), Lucia Puenzo
