Oscars 2025: Mexico Picks Sundance Winner ‘Sujo’ for International Feature Race

Oscars 2025: Mexico Picks Sundance Winner ‘Sujo’ for International Feature Race

As a passionate cinephile who has had the privilege of witnessing the evolution of Mexican cinema, I am thrilled to see “Sujo” making waves at the international film festivals. Having followed the careers of Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez since their groundbreaking work on “Identifying Features,” it’s heartening to see them continue to push boundaries with their storytelling.


2025 Oscars: Mexico has chosen “Sujo,” the Sundance Film Festival’s grand prize winner in the World Cinema category, to be its representative in the Best International Feature film category. Directed by Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez from Identifying Features, this drama made its debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is now touring festivals, with screenings planned for San Sebastian and the London Film Festival this fall.

The narrative revolves around the protagonist Sujo, who is the son of a small-town cartel enforcer. Tragically, his father is killed as a traitor, which typically triggers the cartels to eliminate the male heirs of assassinated members to prevent revenge. As a result, Sujo is forced into hiding in the mountains, living a secluded life with only his aunts and two young cousins for companionship. However, as Sujo matures, portrayed by Juan Jesús Varela in the film “Identifying Features”, he finds himself drawn back into the criminal world, setting him on a path that intersects with his father’s past.

Apart from the main cast members, Yadira Pérez, Alexis Varela, Sandra Lorenzano, Jairo Hernández, and Kevin Aguilar are also featured in the movie titled “Sujo“. The production of this film was handled by Rondero and Valadez, as well as Diana Casarreal, Jewerl Keats Ross, Virginie Devesa, Jean-Baptiste Bailly-Maitre, and Nicolas Celis.

The film has been acquired by The Forge for distribution across North America, with plans for a restricted premiere commencing on November 29th.

Mexico has earned nine nominations for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars, with one win being Alfonso Cuarón’s film “Roma” in 2018. Over the past four years, every Mexican submission – Lila Avilés’ “Tótem”, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Bardo”, Tatiana Huezo’s “Prayers for the Stolen”, and Fernando Frias’s “I’m No Longer Here” – has been shortlisted for an Oscar, but none have been officially nominated.

On December 17th, we’ll reveal the contenders for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars. The nominations themselves will take place on January 17, 2025, and the grand event to announce the winners of the 97th Academy Awards will happen on March 2nd.

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2024-09-24 11:24