Oaxaca FilmFest


Oaxaca FilmFest was an eight-day long international film festival that was permanently cancelled in 2022. At its start, the festival was held every autumn in the Mexican city of Oaxaca from 2010 - 2019, and again from 2021. The festival is composed of various categories and offered a large space in its selection to emerging directors and screenwriters.

History

The festival was founded by Ramiz Adeeb Azar, with the first edition of the festival held in November 2010. MovieMaker magazine listed it as one of "50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" three times. Oaxaca FilmFest has included the works of artist such as Guillermo del Toro, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Spike Lee, Neil LaBute, Diego Luna, Takashi Miike, Martin Scorsese, Bill Plympton, Donald Sutherland, Luke Wilson, and Brian A. Metcalf.

Decline

Starting in 2019, the festival began accepting a large number of submissions. Complaints began to emerge from filmmakers who had attended the festival about mandatory payment requirements, poor screening conditions and a lack of curation. There were also doubts raised about the festival’s professed relationship with HBO and UTA.

Awards

Award Winners for Best Global Feature

YearFilmDirectorCountry
2010La SogaJosh CrookDominican Republic
2011CrebisnkyEnrique OteroSpain
2012Kurtuluş Son DurakYusuf PirhasanTurkey
2013Tu seras un hommeBenoit CohenFrance
2014DaireAtıl İnaçTurkey
2015The WannabeNick SandowUnited States
2016SuntanArgyris PapadimitropoulosGreece
2017BadsvilleApril MullenUnited States
2018Here We AreDavid BellarosaUnited States
2019Time OutMatti KinnunenFinland
2020 NOT HELD---
2021AdverseBrian A. MetcalfUnited States