The second edition of the Chapala Indie Film Festival (CIFF), themed Somos Agua (We Are Water), will take place Friday, November 15, through Sunday, November 17.
With Lake Chapala as its natural backdrop, festival directors Carmen Carolina and Jorge Canseco highlight the event’s mission: “In a world where water is as essential as imagination, CIFF invites us to explore our connection to water and the importance of protecting this vital resource. Through film, we can generate awareness and inspire action for water and environmental care.”
CIFF features three main film categories:
Hecho en el Lago – Showcasing three locally produced films.
Cine Consciente – Films addressing social, cultural and environmental issues in the region.
Cine Experimental – A platform for unique artistic expression and diverse worldviews.
The festival includes works from independent filmmakers in Mexico, the United States, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Nigeria and the lakeside communities of Mezcala and Ajijic.
CIFF’s Red Carpet inaugural event will be held on November 15 at Chapala’s Centro Cultural González Gallo (CCGG), with admission by invitation or pre-registration. A Red Carpet cocktail event will follow at the Centro para la Cultura y las Artes (CCAR) in La Floresta on November 16 at 5 p.m.
The festival will follow a similar structure to last year, with practical workshops in the mornings and film screenings in the afternoons and evenings. All activities are open to the public free of charge.
Workshops for aspiring filmmakers include:
• Taller de Cineminuto at CCAR
• Taller de Foto Documental at CCGG
Both run daily from 10 a.m. to noon for pre-registered participants. Enrollment forms are available by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Film screenings, all with English subtitles, are scheduled as follows:
November 15
•
Cine Experimental, five films, Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia, 2 p.m.
November 16
• Cine Consciente, five films, Lake Chapala Society, 10 a.m.
• Cine Consciente, five films, CCAR, 4 p.m.
• Hecho en el Lago, three films, CCAR, 6 p.m.
November 17
• Cine Experimental, five films, CCAR, 4 p.m.
•Closing ceremony, CCAR, 5 p.m.
• Cine Junto al Lago (Assorted films), Ajijic Malecón open-air forum, 7 p.m.
Follow CIFF on Facebook and Instagram for more details and program updates.