Mexico's Impulso Morelia, a crucial platform for films nearing completion, recently celebrated its 12th iteration by bestowing its top honor, the José María Riba Award, upon Tatiana Huezo's highly anticipated fiction feature, 'Galerna.' The award, presented by Cinépolis Distribution and Profest 2026, includes a substantial cash prize of $14,740 (250,000 pesos) aimed at supporting post-production and promotional efforts.
Huezo, celebrated for her powerful documentaries like 'Tempestad' and 'The Tiniest Place,' and her acclaimed fiction debut 'Prayers for the Stolen,' continues to solidify her reputation as one of Mexico's leading filmmakers. 'Galerna,' her second fiction outing, has already garnered international attention, including the Egeda Platino Industria Award at the San Sebastian Festival's WIP Latin America competition.
The film, described as a road movie, follows two casting directors venturing into remote parts of Mexico. Their search for authentic actors for a sci-fi project evolves into a deeply personal and unsettling exploration of their own biases and fears. Julio Chavezmontes, a juror from Piano, praised Huezo's latest work, telling Variety, “'Tatiana’s ‘Galerna’ represents a new exciting direction for one of the best filmmakers working today, and I’m certain it will be a watershed moment in Mexico cinema when it is finally released to the public.”
Another significant winner at Impulso Morelia was the documentary 'Homeboys,' directed by Alonso Garibay and Alejandro Bernal. The film received a Special Mention from the international panel and was honored with the inaugural Eugenio Polgovsky award, a $5,340 (100,000 pesos) prize established in memory of the beloved filmmaker. 'Homeboys' centers on Roberto Hernández, known as “Mr. Lucky,” a man deported to a country he barely remembered, who subsequently founded a shelter for others facing similar circumstances. Chavezmontes commented on its win, stating, “It was deeply moving to see the inaugural Eugenio Polgovsky award go to ‘Homeboys’. This is a film that shares Eugenio’s fearless humanism.”
Impulso Morelia, which ran from October 18-20 during the larger Morelia Film Festival, serves as a vital springboard for Mexican and Latin American cinema, offering financial incentives and in-kind services to help projects cross the finish line. Beyond the top prizes, several other films received crucial support. Post-production house Caffeine awarded in-kind services valued at over $20,000 to 'Galerna,' 'Homeboys,' and 'All the Water in the World,' highlighting the diverse talent on display. Adrian Geyer, Caffeine CEO, noted that these films “show the range of Mexican cinema right now.”
Additional in-kind services were provided by Estudios Splendor Omnia to documentaries 'Raká' and 'Katechon,' and Churubusco Award split its post-production services between 'Legit' and 'All the Water in the World.' The support offered by Impulso Morelia is designed to make a tangible difference for filmmakers, ensuring these promising projects can achieve their full potential and reach audiences and critics alike.