Ernesto Contrera's debut Blue Eyelids (Parpados Azules) from Mexico was named best film in the Ibero-American competition section. The award, the Golden Mayahuel, comes with a $30,000 prize.
The Special Jury Prize (Silver Mayahuel) and $20,000 went to the Brazilian project Alice 's House (A Casa de Alice) by Chico Texeira. That film also won the Fipresci critics prize and best actress for Carla Ribas.
The festival director Jorge Sanchez's considerable boost of the Market and co-production activities this year was reflected in the substantial awards in cash made available by private sponsors to back such initiatives as Cine en Construction presented in collaboration with the Toulouse and the San Sebastian film festivals.
The festival attracted a considerable number of big names from the international film scene. Among them were Costa Gavras and the venerated Brazilian master Nelson Perreira dos Santos. Full fledged retrospectives of their films were screened and both also presented workshops for local students.
Other guests hosting talks included Brokeback Mountain and Babel cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto and Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro, who received a new prize honouring Latin American film personalities.
Film Market director Alejandra Paulin reported a considerable increase in attendance and deals compared to last year confirming that the Guadalajara Market leads the Ibero-American Film Markets. Almost 500 films were registered representing 32 countries. Forty five sale agents, 90 buyers and 187 distribution/exhibition companies were present attending over 400 market screenings. The Market added the Cannes-originated Producers Network attracting 80 producers.
Among the business dealings in Guadalajara, Alfredo Calvinio's Latinofusion was in advanced negotiations over titles including Black Butterfly (Mariposa negra) by Francisco Lombardi, How Far It Is (Que tan lejos) by Tania Hermida, Paulo Caldas' Happy Desert (Deserto Feliz) and The Sugar Curtain (El telon de azucar) by Camila Guzman.
Mexico-based Macondo, meanwhile, has struck a 36-film package deal with US-based Facets Video for two DVD releases per month.
Argentinian Kaos producciones's Martin Fontan reported brisk interest for his production The Tree (El Arbol) while Mexican titles intensely traded in the Market included Blue Eyelids and Two Love Stories (Dos Abrazos) by Enrique Begne.
Guadalajara 2007 awards
Ibero-American section
Best film: Blue Eyelids (Parpados Azules) by Ernesto Contreras, Mexico
Special Jury Prize: Alice 's House (A casa de Alice) by Chico Texeira, Brazil
First Film Award: What I Know Of Lola (Lo que se de Lola) by Javier Rebollo, Spain
Best director: Paulo Caldas for Happy Desert (Deserto Feliz), Brazil/Germany
Screenplay award: Carlos Contreras for Blue Eyelids
Actress award: Carla Ribas in Alice's House
Actor award: Selton Mello in Drained (O cheiro do ralo) by Heitor Dhalia, Brazil
Director of Photography: Daniel Aranyo for The Distance (La distancia) by Inaki Dorronsoro, Spain
Best documentary feature: Accident (Accidente) by Cao Guimaraes and Pablo Lobato, Brazil
Mexican Section
Best film: Bad Habits by Simon Bross
First Film award: Used Car Parts (Partes usadas) by Aaron Fernandez
Best director: Enrique Begne for Two Love Stories (Dos Abrazos)
Mezcal award (Young cinephiles jury): Blue Eyelids
Best documentary feature: Old Thieves. Artegios Legends (Los ladrones viejos. Las leyendas del Artegio) by Everardo Gonzalez Reyes, Mexico
Audience Award: Angels, Flowers and Fuentes (De angeles, flores y fuentes) by Rodolfo Guzman, Francisc Rodriguez and Hector Rodriguez
TVE AWARD
The 4th Regiment (La 4a compania) by Amir Galvan (Mexico), presented in the fourth Co-production Meetings
FIPRESCI award
Alice's House (A Casa de Alice) by Chico Texeira (Brazil)
CINE EN CONSTRUCCION AWARDS
The Road (El camino) by Ishtar Yasin Guttierez (Costa Rica)
The King Of Cha Cha Cha (El Rey de Cha Cha Cha) by Isabel Martinez and Vicente Ferraz (Costa Rica)
Personal Belongings (Convicciones personales) by Alejandro Brugues (Cuba)
Theo's Trip (El viaje de Theo) by Walter Doehner (Mexico)
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