A big tribute to Mexico (curators: Sofía Carrillo, Ana Cruz, Lucía Cavalchini, Tania de León Yong, Lourdes Villagómez, Christian Bermejo and Jordi Iñesta) took place during the 2023 Annecy Festival, with Mexico being the country in focus.

While Mexico is usually associated with names like Guillermo Del Toro and Jorge R. Gutiérrez, it involves, as its programmers note 'hidden treasures'. Such was the 'Mexican Archeology' programme,  a historical retrospective of Mexican animation films (1935 - 1982).

Including the first documented short film by a woman and the first computer-created animation, the programme was meant to feature both experimental and historical works in Mexican animation history

The full 'Mexican Animated Archaeology' lineup:

• 'Paco Perico en Premier', Alfonso Vergara Andrade,1935, 8:45
• 'Crónicas del Caribe', Emilio Watanabe y Francisco López, 1982, 28:00
• 'Punto Línea Simetría', Gerardo León Lastra, 1976, 9:45
• 'El compa Clodomiro y el capitalismo' , Grupo Cine Sur, 1981 , 3:50
• 'Y si eres mujer', Guadalupe Sánchez Sosa, 1977, 6:40
• 'Juárez', Juan Ramón Arana, 1972, 13:25
• 'La persecución de Pancho Villa', Grupo Cine Sur, 1978, 7:00

Programmer Tania de León Yong comments on the Mexican Animated Archaeology programme for Zippy Frames

"The primary factor that was considered when selecting the movies was diversity. Our intention was to avoid focusing solely on one type of animation, so we ensured a varied collection of films, encompassing different themes and techniques. The initial step involved assessing the available materials, which led us to compile a selection.

Among the films we included is 'Paco Perico in Premiere' (1935), which stands as one of the earliest examples of entertainment cinema. Additionally, we have 'Crónicas del Caribe' (1982) and 'La Persecusión de Pancho Villa' (1978), both carrying political content. 'El Compa Clodomiro y el Capitalismo' from 1981 also falls into this category. Furthermore, 'Juarez' from 1972 portrays the life of Benito Juarez, tailored for a younger audience.

Another distinctive film we chose is 'Punto, Línea y Simetría' from 1976, an abstract computer-generated work that has remained unseen since the 1970s. Lastly, we have 'Y si eres mujer' from 1976, marking the first animated film created by a Mexican woman.

Hence, these were the criteria employed to determine the movie selection: encompassing diversity in animation styles and genres, availability of materials, and the historical significance of the films.

Filmoteca UNAM, entrusted with the preservation and restoration of historic Mexican films, played a fundamental role in digitally conserving these movies, specifically for the Annecy Festival. Although the current emphasis lies on digitalization, the curator team, of which I am a part, recognizes the significance of restoring animated Mexican films. In the near future, we plan to explore opportunities to restore these animated films, ensuring their preservation and returning them closer to their original versions.  Our curator team remains committed to furthering restoration efforts for animated Mexican films in the coming years.

While it might be challenging to directly trace influences from these specific films due to their relative obscurity, it is important to acknowledge that political themes have always been present throughout the history of Mexican animation. Contemporary animators may not consciously draw inspiration from these particular movies, yet the broader tradition of addressing political and cultural subjects in Mexican animation persists. An excellent demonstration of this can be witnessed in the program titled 'The Untold Stories (Mexican animation tribute),' which is also being showcased at this year's Annecy Film Festival. This program underscores the enduring presence of political themes in Mexican animation, affirming the continuous exploration of such topics by present-day animators.

Furthermore, while direct influences from these specific films may not be immediately evident, Mexican culture undoubtedly permeates the programs we are presenting. The profound cultural heritage of Mexico inevitably shapes the work of contemporary animators, contributing to the distinct artistic expressions found within Mexican animation. Although direct influences from these particular films may be limited due to their relative obscurity, the tradition of addressing political themes and the cultural context of Mexico continue to shape and inspire contemporary animation in the country" - Tania de León Yong

'Punto Línea Simetría

Cronicas del Caribe

Paco Perico en Premier

Y si eres mujer

The other films and programmes part of the Annecy Mexican tribute:

GUADALAJARA SCHOOL

Polifemo, Rigoberto Mora, 2002, 1:59
Viva el Rey, Luis Téllez, 2017, 8:24
Los aeronautas, León Fernández, 2016, 11:04
La Noria, Karla Castañeda, 2012, 7:32
Lluvia en los ojos, Rita Basulto, 2013 , 9:03
Cerulia, Sofia Carrillo, 2017, 12:59
Tío, Juan José Medina, 2021, 12:34
Hasta los huesos, René Castillo, 2001, 11:52

NEW VOICES

Transtierro, Susana Arrazola, 2021, 9:00
Yo contengo un espacio, Andrea Gudiño, 2021, 3:00
Anfibia, Gabriela Orozco, 2020, 5:00
Sisters, Emilia Schettino, 2021, 4:00
Baby Grotesque, Danela Espinosa, 2017, 3:30
Adelina, Ana Portilla, 2019, 7:00
El hombre de la esquina, Javiera Dolores Soledad, 2021, 10:50
Las asombrosas aventuras de GrizzlyMan & Turnip, Eduardo Gala, 2021, 3:13
Ñihi, Tamara Cruz, 2019, 2:53
La frontera, Cristian Arredondo, 2022, 8:00
Rehén, Frida Sánchez, 2022, 2:55
La Bestia, Ram Tamez, 2020, 7:41
Toothless, Andrea Guizar, 2021, 12:00

URBAN AND SUBURBAN

La Ciudad, Andreas Papacostas y Camilla Uboldi, 2021, 10:55
Sin sostén, René Castillo, 1998, 4:00
Made in Central de Abasto , Carlos Gamboa, 2013, 3:49
Desde adentro, Dominique Jonard, 1996, 13:00
Mis Múltiples Suicidios, Josué Vázquez Peralta, 2010, 4:00
Un día en familia, Pedro Zulu González, 2013, 7:00
Bestias Urbanas, Natalia Pájaro y Amanda Woolrich , 2017, 4:30
Última Estación, Héctor Dávila Cabrera, 2017, 6:00
Liber, Simon Gerbaud, 2013, 4:00
La secta de los Insectos, Pablo Calvillo, 2016, 9:00
Inventario Churubusco, Elena Pardo, 2019, 7:05
La niña del río, Gabriela Badillo, 2017, 1:07
El héroe, Carlos Carrera, 1993, 5:00

MEXICAN TV

Frankelda's book of spooks: Give me your name, Arturo Ambriz, Roy Ambriz 2021, 14:00
Cantinflas show, 1972, 6:00:00
Villanous: The Heedeous heart, Alan Ituriel, 2021, 13:00
La chango y la chancla, Carlos Hagerman, Jorge Villalobos, 2013, 08:00
Las leyendas: Powrie, José Alejandro García, 2017, 24:00
Rey Mysterio vs la oscuridad, Calavera Hnos, 2021, 14:49

GROWING UP MEXICAN

El Agujero, Maribel Suárez, 2016, 4:11
Gina, David Diomedes Heras, 2018, 9:00
El pueblo de la música y la palma, Gabriela Badillo, 2020, 1:35
El Trompetista , Raúl Morales, 2014, 9:53
Las manchas del ocelote, Gabriela Badillo, 2017, 1:11
La flor azul, La Matatena, 2019, 7:00
Olas en el cielo, Gildardo Santoyo del Castillo, 2015, 9:00
Mi abuela Matilde, Miguel Anaya, 2021, 10:47
Volvamos a mirar el arcoiris, Gabriela Badillo, 2020, 1:11
Elena y las sombras, César Cepeda, 2016, 8:00
El origen de las minas de sal de San Mateo, Gabriela Badillo, 2020, 1:11
La historia de todos, Blanca Aguerre, 2003, 10:00

SUR-REALITIES: POETIC IMAGERY

Introducción a la Historia de la Filosofía Occidental, Aria Covamonas, 2020, 7:15
White Noise, Salvador Herrera, 2014, 2:12
Poliangular, Alexandra Castellanos, 2017, 8:17
El Artificio, Andrea Robles, 2017, 3:49
Cronografía I, Tania de León, 2016, 8:25
Primos , Federico Gutierrez Obeso, 2018, 10:00
El jardín de las delicias, Alejandro García Caballero, 2016, 7:18
Niño de mis ojos , Guadalupe Sánchez Sosa, 2008, 11:00
La Última Cena, Vanessa Quintanilla Cobo, 2014, 10:00
Trayectoria de una lágrima, Marisa Raygoza, 2015, 3:15
Martyris, Luis Felipe Hernández Alanís, 2010, 8:00

THE UNTOLD STORIES

Largo es el camino al cielo, José Ángel García Moreno, 1998, 8:57
En avant, Michelle Tamariz, 2019, 4:06
Cuando muere una lengua, Gabriela Badillo, 2013, 2:00
Amnesia en el Estado , Esteban Azuela, 2016, 2:48
El desfile de los ausentes, Marcos Aldama Riveros, 2020, 9:43
Reality 2.0, Víctor Orozco, 2018, 11:00
Nos Faltan, Emilio Ramos, 2014, 4:40
Ñores (sin señalar), Analissa D Quagliata, 2016, 3:00
Llueve, Carolina Corral-Magali Rocha, 2021, 11:00
The big war, Juan Manuel Pavón, 2012, 2:10
Dalia Sigue Aquí, Nuria Menchaca, 2019, 11:00
Síndrome de Linea Blanca, Lourdes Villagómez Oviedo, 2006, 8:20
Amada, Carlos Carrera, 1988, 1:42
La llorona, Adriana Ronquillo, 2019, 4:40

MEXICO IN HOLLYWOOD TV

El Tigre, The Adventures of Manny Rivera, Created by Jorge R. Gutiérrez & Sandra Equihua.
Directed by: Dave Thomas, 15:00
Onyx Equinox: Jaws of the jaguar, Kuni Tomita, 2020, 23:00
Disney Shorts: ¡Felíz Cumpleaños!, Alonso Ramírez Ramos, 2015, 4:00
Maya y los Tres: Quinceañera, Created and Directed by Jorge R. Gutiérrez 33:00

(central image: El compa Clodomiro y el capitalismo' , Grupo Cine Sur, 1981)