Morelia fest sets competition

MEXICO CITY -- The ninth Morelia Film Festival revealed its key Mexican competition selection Monday. Counting works from five femme filmmakers one of the eight photos within the running, the fest is rapidly attaining industry pull like a hothouse revue for up-and-coming local company directors showing their 1st or 2nd works. Lucia Carreras, co-scribe in 2010 Cannes Camera d'Or champion "Leap Year," might find the planet preem of her first outing as helmer, "Help You, Father." A minimum of three from the films have experienced worldwide fest play this season: Paula Markovitch's "The Prize" (El premio) unspooled in Berlin in Feb and also at Guadalajara in March Yulene Olaizola's "Artificial Paradise" ("Paraisos artificiales") performed in Tribeca and Dallas and from Venice comes Kyzza Terrazas' feature debut, "Machete Language" ("El lenguaje p los machetes"). Terrazas is really a frequent collaborator with Canana Films. Kenya Marquez, an old director from the Guadalajara Film Festival, is rivaling her first film, "Expiration Date" (Fecha p caducidad). Matias Meyer includes a second chance in the prize together with his follow-as much as 2009's "The Cramp" (El calambre), "Los ultimos cristeros." Also up is Carlos "Hari" Sama's "El sueno p Lu" (literally, "Lu's Dream"). Rounding the competish is "Mi universo en minusculas" from recent film school grad Hatuey Viveros. Fest runs March. 15-23. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com