THE MEXICAN FILM BULLETIN VOL. 25 #2 JUNE 2019 The Mexican Film Bulletin Volume 25 Number 2 O June 2019 was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Ariel Obituaries for her final film, Tamara y la Catarina (2016). Edith González Mercedes Pascual was married twice, to actor Actress Edith González died of cancer on 13 June Claudio Brook, and to diplomat Víctor Flores Olea; 2019; she was 54 years old. Edith González Fuentes she had one daughter from each marriage. was born in Monterrey in December 1964. She made her debut on the stage as a child, and began Alejandro Valdés to appear regularly on Alejandro Valdés, son of actor Manuel “Loco” television in the early Valdés, died of heart 1970s. Later in the failure on 3 April decade she had small 2016. He was 61 roles in a variety of years old. Valdés, films, including nicknamed “El Alucarda, El rey de los Pupi,” was involved gorilas, Ciclón, and in show business as Guyana: el crimen del an artistic director. He was one of 12 children of the siglo. famous comic actor. González would continue to work in Armando Vega Gil films over the next several decades, but gained most Musician Armando Vega Gil, drummer and of her fame on television in more than 30 telenovelas founder of the popular group “Botellita de Jerez,” and TV series such as “Corazón salvaje” and “Doña died on 1 April 2019; he was 64 years old. Vega Gil Bárbara.” She also worked on the stage. committed suicide after being accused on the González was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in “MeTooMusicosMexicanos” Twitter account of 2016 but went back to work after treatment, only to abusing a 13-year-old girl. The musician said the finally succumb to the disease in 2019. anonymous accusation was false and defended his Edith González had one daughter, Constanza record of humanitarian actions during his career, but Creel, born in 2004, the result of a relationship with indicated in the current climate he was unable to politician Santiago Creel. She married businessman defend himself and had Lorenzo Lazo in 2010. decided to commit suicide as “a radical declaration of Mercedes Pascual innocence.” Mercedes Pascual died on 9 June 2019 in Mexico Botellita de Jerez was City. Pascual was born in Madrid in 1930 and founded in 1982 by Vega emigrated to Mexico Gil, Sergio Arau (son of with her family in actor & filmmaker Alfonso 1939 due to the Arau), and Francisco Spanish Civil War. Barrios, and remained She later became a active (for periods under Mexican citizen. the name La HH Botellita Pascual originally de Jerez) until Vega Gil’s death, at which time the studied dance but band announced it was breaking up. The guacarrock later studied acting as music of the group can be heard in various Mexican well, and appeared in films of the era, including La verdadera historia de numerous plays, Barman y Droguin and the semi-documentary Naco telenovelas, and feature films. Among the latter were es chido (directed by Sergio Arau). El esqueleto de Señora Morales, Los años verdes, El juicio de Martín Cortés, and Cilantro y perejil. She 1 THE MEXICAN FILM BULLETIN VOL. 25 #2 JUNE 2019 Coral Bonelli Un Cuento de Circo & A Love Song (2016), directed Actor and transgender activist Coral Bonelli died by Bichir and starring Bichir, Sherk, and Arcelia at the age of 57 on 6 May 2019; she had been Ramírez. Sherk also appeared in the Mexican suffering from diabetes. Born Federico García production Loco Love (2017). Ortega in April 1963, “Pinolito” (sometimes “Pinolillo”) Gualberto Castro began Singer Gualberto Castro died on 27 June 2019 of acting in complications from bladder cancer; he was 84 years Mexican old. Gualberto Antonio Castro Levario was born in cinema as a Mexico City in July 1934. He broke into show child, business as a dancer at the Teatro Blanquita, but appearing joined his cousins Arturo, Javier and Jorge Castro-- in Fe, who had been performing as “Los Panchitos”--to esperanza y form the “Hermanos Castro.” The group was very caridad, El hijo de los pobres, La casa del sur, Los popular through the 1960s, appearing in a number of hermanos del viento and other films, for directors films such as El zángano, Cómo pescar marido, and including Jorge Fons, Sergio Ohlovich, Arturo El misterio de los hongos halucinantes. Ripstein, and Julio Bracho. At the age of 32, García Ortega became Coral Bonelli and continued her career as a performer, albeit with somewhat less success. However, in 2013 Bonelli and her mother Lilia Ortega (also an actress) starred in Roberto Fiesco’s documentary Quebranto, to considerable acclaim. Bonelli subsequently appeared in other films, including perhaps her last, Estrellas solitarias (2015, Gualberto Castro began a successful solo career released in 2018). in the 1970s: in addition to singing, he appeared in the Spanish-language version of “West Side Story” (“Amor sin barreras”), and was a host of the 1980s María Zarattini TV series “La carabina de Ambrosio.” He had a Writer María Zarattini died on 21 April 2019; she major role in La criada maravilla (1978). was 64 years of age. Castro was married 5 times and also had a long- Zarattini, born in Italy, began time relationship with actress Macaria that resulted in writing telenovelas for a son. He is survived by his last wife, Gundy Becker. Televisa in the mid-1970s. She subsequently married producer José Rendón and ariel awards 2019 worked on a number of extremely popular programs, both originals and adaptations. Stefanie Sherk Actress Stefanie Sherk, wife of actor Demián Bichir, died in Los Angeles on 20 April 2019; she was 37 years old. Sherk had been suffering from depression and took The 61st Ariel Awards were presented on 24 June her own life. Sherk 2019 at the Cineteca Nacional in Mexico City. Roma was born in Ontario, won 10 awards, including Best Film & Best Director. Canada in January Las niñas bien received 4 awards. On the red carpet 1982 and began acting professionally in the 2000s. outside the ceremony, participants protested against She married Bichir in 2011, and they collaborated on government cuts for cultural activities, and in favour 2 THE MEXICAN FILM BULLETIN VOL. 25 #2 JUNE 2019 of greater equality for women in the film industry and Best Makeup: “Bayoneta”, “El día de la unión”, in films. Pedro Guijarro Hidalgo, “Las niñas bien”, Best Film: “La camarista”, “Las niñas bien”, “Museo”, “Roma”. “Museo”, “Nuestro tiempo”, “Roma”. Best Special Effects: “Cygnus”, “El día de la Best Direction: Lila Avilés, “La camarista”; unión”, “El habitante”, “La gran promesa”, Alejandra Márquez, “Las niñas bien”; Alonso Alejandro Vázquez, “Roma”. Ruizpalacios, “Museo”; Carlos Reygadas, “Nuestro Best Visual Effects: “Bayoneta”, “De la tiempo”; Alfonso Cuarón, “Roma”. infancia”, “El día de la unión”, “Museo”, Sheldon Best Actress: Concepción Márquez, “Cría Stopsack & David Griffiths, “Roma”. puercos”; Gabriela Cartol, “La camarista”; Ilse Salas, Best First Work: “Ayotzinapa, el paso de la “Las niñas bien”; Sophie Alexander-Katz, “Los días tortuga”, “Cría puercos”, “Hasta los dientes”, “La más oscuros de nosotras”; Yalitza Aparicio, “Roma”. camarista” (Lila Avilés), “Los días más oscuros de Best Actor: Luis Gerardo Méndez, “Bayoneta”; nosotras”. Damián Alcázar, “De la infancia”; Baltimore Beltrán, Best Documentary Feature: “Ayotzinapa, el “Mente revólver”; Gael García Bernal, “Museo”; Noé paso de la tortuga”, “Hasta los dientes” (Albert Hernández, “Ocho de cada diez”. Saúl Arnaut Estrada), “Rita, el documental”, “Rush Best Co-Starring Actor: Ernesto Gómez Cruz, Hour”, “Witkin y Witkin”. “De la infancia”; Flavio Medina, “Las niñas bien”; Best Animated Feature: “Ahí viene Hoze Meléndez, “Mente revólver”; Leonardo cascarrabias”, “Ana y Bruno” (Carlos Carrera), Ortizgriz, “Museo”; Jorge Antonio Guerrero, “El ángel en el reloj”, “La leyenda del charro negro”. “Roma”. Best Fictional Short: “Arcángel” (Ángeles Best Co-Starring Actress: Cassandra Cruz), “B-167-980-098”, “El aire delgado”, “El Ciangherotti, “El club de los insomnes”; Teresa último romántico”, “Velvet”, “Videotape”. Sánchez, “La camarista”; Cassandra Ciangherotti, Best Documentary Short: “19 de septiembre”, “Las niñas bien”; Paulina Gaitán, “Las niñas bien”; “Aurora”, “Las visitadoras”, “M”, “Sinfonía de un Marina de Tavira, “Roma”. mar triste” (Carlos Morales). Best New Performer: Agustina Quinci, “La Best Animated Short: “Justicia”, “32-Rbit”, camarista”; Alan Uribe, “La camarista”; Benny “Gina”, “Primos”, “Viva el rey” (Luis Téllez). Emmanuel, “De la infancia”; Bernardo Velasco, Best Iberoamerican Film: “Campeones” “Museo”; Nancy García, “Roma”. (España), “El ángel” (Argentina), “La noche de 12 Best Original Screenplay: “La Camarista”, “Las años” (Uruguay), “Las herederas” (Paraguay), niñas bien”, “Museo”, “Nuestro tiempo”, Alfonso “Pájaros de verano” (Colombia). Cuarón, “Roma”. Ariel de Oro: Nerio Barberis (sound designer), Best Adapted Screenplay: “Ana y Bruno”; Silvia Paz Alicia Garciadiego (writer), Héctor Bonilla (actor Pasternac, Carlos Carrera, Fernando Javier, “De and producer). la infancia”. Best Photography: Carlos F. Rossini, “La camarista”; Dariela Ludlow, “Las niñas bien”; Venezuela and Mexican Damián García, “Museo”; Diego García, “Nuestro tiempo”; Alfonso Cuarón, “Roma”. Cinema Best Editing: “Hasta los dientes”, “La camarista”, Films were made in Venezuela only sporadically “Las niñas bien”, “Museo”, Alfonso Cuaron & until the 1970s, when a small film industry was Adam Gough, “Roma”. established. In the 1980s and beyond, more feature Best Sound: “Bayoneta”, “Las niñas bien”, films were