The FICB winning director points out that the Ariel Awards were rigged

The famous director, Julián Hernández, caused a stir on social networks by launching a surprising denunciation against the Ariel Awards given by the Mexican Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMACC). According to Hernández, this prestigious awards ceremony is tainted with illegality and corruption, calling into question the transparency of its voting processes.

THE next edition of the Ariel Awardswhich will be held on September 9, 2023 at the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara, Jalisco, sees the participation of 130 Mexican and 9 Ibero-American films, as well as other types of productions.

Among the most anticipated categories, the Best Film category stands out, in which works such as “Bardo, false chronicle of some truths” by Alejandro González Iñárritu, “El norte sobre el vacío” by Alejandra Márquez Abella, “Huesera”, a cousin of Michelle Garza Cervera, “La caída” by Lucía Puenzo and “La civil” by Teodora Mihai.

However, Hernández has raised suspicions about the recording of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s film, claiming it was “illegal and corrupt”. According to her statements, for years he presented all his films to the Ariel Awards in the hope of getting some recognition, but it never happened.

He also revealed part of the AMACC voting process, noting that the films were not seen in their entirety, only fragments of them, which questioned the objectivity of the jury.

The director also shared his personal experience as a member of the AMACC judging panel, revealing that he has received phone calls from influential colleagues and friends asking for his vote at the last minute. This raised questions about the rigor and impartiality of the voteas it seemed that the decisions were made more by friendship or favoritism than by the cinematic quality of the entries in competition.

• It may interest you to read: ‘La Civil’ and ‘El norte sobre el emptiness’ highlight the Ariel Awards
• Michelle Garza’s ‘Huesera’ leads the Ariel Awards

Other directors have criticized the legitimacy of the awards

Disappointed by the apparent lack of integrity at the Ariel Awards, Hernández has decided not to participate in future editions. He believes that, despite his personal rigor, the voting system allows for films by friends or productions in which he himself has been involved to be privileged, even citing the case of a short film by someone “very nice”. This revelation calls into question the transparency of the awards and the fairness in selecting the winners.

In addition to his criticisms of the integrity of the Ariel Awards, Julián Hernández also directly pointed to Alejandro González Iñárritu, emphatically accusing that its registration was “illegal and corrupt”. The controversy didn’t stop there, as Hernández himself surprised by revealing that he had acquired an Ariel Award statuette for himself via a sales page.

In an ironic tone, Hernández expressed his satisfaction by stating:

I have in my hands the Ariel I’ve always wanted. I bought it with the money my films give me and I’m also giving it to myself in gold because I love myself very much. Thank you!”

These shocking statements have generated a great debate in the Mexican film industry. While some support Julián Hernández’s complaints and call for a comprehensive review of the selection processes for the Ariel Awards, others defend the integrity of the AMACC and argue that these allegations are baseless. The controversy has reached such a pitch that it has sparked discussions about transparency in film awards in general.

It `s important to note that Julián Hernández is not the first director to question the legitimacy of film awards. Throughout history, there have been numerous cases of claims of manipulation and favoritism in different international awards. These allegations highlight the complexity and subjectivity surrounding the artistic evaluation and selection of winners.

Faced with this controversy, the AMACC has remained silent until now, without issuing any official statement in response to Julián Hernández’s allegations. However, it is likely that the academy will be forced to address this issue and take steps to restore trust and credibility in the Ariel Awards.