Filmmaking reframed

This elegant thoughtful film, The Rebirth of an Industry, reveals the story of a pause in Mexico’s film industry when Covid lockdown saw studios close “and the lights go out in every film set on the planet”. 

Directed by Madrefoca founder Jorge Aguilera, it features actors Yalitza Aparicio (Roma) and Tenoch Huerta (Narcos) delivering a two-person monologue expressing how the film business – which plays as big a role in  Mexico’s economy as industries such as iron, steel and cement – must transform itself and re-emerge from the darkness as more responsible, more just and more inclusive. 

In collaboration with copywriter Faride Schroeder and co-director Liam Aguilera Kelly, the film was commissioned by ProducciónMX, a newly formed independent producers' collective born out of the need for better working conditions especially in the advertising landscape. 

Aguilera is quoted “It was very inspiring to see our community of crew members come together to help create - for the public, the authorities but mostly for ourselves – an important message of renewal.”