The Impulso Morelia of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) presents an exclusive program of Mexican feature films in post-production with the objective of offering international visibility to these projects and creating a space for the exchange of ideas between Mexican filmmakers and professionals of the global film industry. The third edition of the Impulso Morelia took place from October 23 to 25, as part of the 15th FICM.
Each year, Impulso Morelia selects feature films (documentary and fiction) that are in the stages of postproduction to be presented by members of the crew, in closed screenings to experts of the industry. Programmers of national and international film festivals, critics, producers, distributors, and sales agents participate in this unique opportunity for direct and constructive dialogue about the chosen projects. Additionally, each edition of Impulso Morelia grants different awards and financial supports destined to contribute to the conclusion, promotion, and circulation of the projects.

“We received 70 projects, which we narrowed down to these five, no easy task”, said Impulso coordinator-programmer, Andrea Stavenhagen. “It’s always a question of quality over quantity,” said Impulso co-programmer Jose Maria Riba.
In contrast to last year when Impulso opened up to projects in development, the program has only accepted films in post-production for this 3rd edition. “The Sundance Lab, in Morelia for the first time ever, will be handling scripts in development this time,” said Stavenhagen.

The films that were selected to participate in Impulso Morelia 2017 were:

1. Ayotzinapa, el paso de la tortuga / Ayotzinapa

   Dir. Enrique García Meza

   Production company: Salamandra Producciones

2. El paraíso de la serpiente / Serpent’s paradise

   Dir. Bernardo Arellano

   Production company: Biznaga Films, La Maroma Producciones, Bibifilm Italia, La Provincia Cine

3. Feral

   Dir. Andrés Kaiser

   Production company: Cine Feral

4. La negrada

   Dir. Jorge Pérez Solano

   Production company: Tirisia Cine

5. Xquipi’ Guie’dani (El ombligo de Guie’dani) / Guie’dani’s navel

   Dir. Xavi Sala

   Production company: Xavi Sala p.c.     

Among them, the fiction feature La Negrada by Jorge Pérez Solano, plays almost like a documentary and is the first local film to focus on Mexico’s Afro-Mexican population.
This is Pérez Solano’s third feature, after a diptych, 2009’s “Spiral” and 2014’s “La Tirisia” (“Perpetual Sadness”) both of which examined in a naturalistic style the fate of those left behind by men’s immigration to the U.S.
Solano's film won hearts as well as double plaudits. It won the “Next” Award from the Tribeca Film Institute which consists of $10,000 for post-production and one year of tutoring for the development of the director’s next project. It also won the Impulso Morelia Post-Production Award which consists of a diploma and 200 thousand pesos for post-production services granted by FICM.
The Churubusco Award was won by Serpent’s Paradise, by Bernardo Arellano which consists of 200 thousand pesos in THX sound post-production services. The Impulso Morelia / Ambulante Award for Mexican Feature-Length Documentary award was won by Ayotzinapa, the Turtle’s Pace by Enrique García Meza which consists of a support of 50 thousand pesos to complement the postproduction of a documentary feature. The winning film will have a special screening in a future edition of Ambulante Documentary Tour.
The Cinépolis Distribution Award was won by Guie’dani’s Navel by Xavi Sala. It consists of a P&A of at least 250 thousand pesos in a national exhibition. The terms will be defined in agreement with the film.
Sources:
https://moreliafilmfest.com/en/impulso-morelia/
http://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/morelia-five-projects-vie-prizes-at-pix-program-impulso-morelia-1202595057/
https://moreliafilmfest.com/en/ganadores-festival-de-morelia-15-ficm/