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Mexican Film Industry

Mexican film industry
Mexican film industry - Salma Hayek

The Mexican Film Industry has produced a diverse assortment of award-winning films and numerous renowned actors and actresses.

The Mexican film industry began at the start of the 20th century. Initially, films were made to document historical news and events, such as the Mexican Revolution. During the early 1900s, about 16 movie salons were established in Mexico’s capital.

The Golden Age of the Mexican film industry began in the 1940s, after the Revolution. During this time, Mexico was able to dominate the market for films, both locally and in other Latin American countries, without much competition. The year 1943 produced approximately 70 Mexican films, including the critically-acclaimed Maria Candelaria. Maria Candelaria, directed by Emilio Fernandez and starring Dolores del Rio, received the Palme d’Or award at the year’s Cannes Film Festival.

During the 1960s through the 1980s, there was a notable expansion in the genres of Mexican films. The industry produced various action movies, cult horrors and sexicomedias during those times.

The Era of the Nuevo Cinema Mexicano, or New Mexican Cinema, started in the 1990s. Movies, such as Como Agua Para Chocolate, Amores Perros, Frida and Y Tu Mama Tambien, have been recognized internationally by various award-giving bodies. In 2002, the movie El Crimen del Padre Amaro, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, set the record for ticket sales in Mexico, amounting to over 5 million.

In the 2007 Academy Awards, the films of three Mexican directors, namely Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, received 16 Oscar nominations. Although the Mexican film industry is getting massive exposure due to these films, more and more Mexican directors and actors are leaving the country to pursue international careers in Europe and the US.

If you want to catch films in Mexico, there are various local theaters you can go to. The more popular ones include Cinemex, Cinemark, Lumiere, Cinepolis and Multicinemas. Movie cinemas can be found all over the country.