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Iku Manieva

Two children take refuge from violence in the mountains of Sinaloa, Mexico.

‘Iku Manieva’ is a short documentary filmed in the Sinaloa sierra, a mythical territory in Northwest Mexico historically controlled by the drug cartels and whose violent dispute has transformed entire communities into ghost towns.

Narrated through the hopeful look of two children from the Sinaloa highlands -where the film unfolds- the story takes us into an idyllic landscape wrapped in a rare atmosphere of peace that constrasts deepply with the threatening presence of the narcos.

A conflict that has spread over time generating countless deaths and human rights violations suffered by the inhabitants in different rural áreas of the State, registering 1,800 displaced families and 3,000 exiled people between the years 2012 and 2018.

  • Isaac Ruiz Gastélum
    Director
  • Isaac Ruiz Gastélum
    Writer
  • Isaac Ruiz Gastélum
    Producer
  • Jacqueline Vizcarra
    Key Cast
  • Bryan Ramírez
    Key Cast
  • Daniela Covarrubias
    PA
  • Eduardo Dueñas Calderón
    Direct Sound, Music
  • Alejandro Ochoa
    Aerial Video
  • Maximiliano Arias
    Location Manager
  • Isaac Ruiz Gastélum
    DP
  • Isaac Ruiz Gastélum
    Editor
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Iku Manieva
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Experimental
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 20, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Country of Filming:
    Mexico
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital SLR
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • I New York Latin American Art Triennial
    New York
    United States
    December 19, 2019
  • V Pori Film Festival
    Pori
    Finland
    December 1, 2019
    Finnish Premiere
  • IV FICMA: Festival Internacional de Cine con Medios
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    November 30, 2019
  • XV Festival Transterritorial de Cine Unerground
    Tigre
    Argentina
    November 9, 2019
  • II Tegenstroom International Film festival
    Oostburg
    Netherlands
    October 20, 2019
  • IX MoziMotion Film Festival
    Hilversum
    Netherlands
    October 9, 2019
    Dutch Premiere
  • III Mostra Filmes De Montanha
    Foz do Iguaçu
    Brazil
    September 27, 2019
  • I Sighth & Sound Festival
    Oxnard
    United States
    September 21, 2019
    Best Sound Design
  • III SUBURBINALE
    Groß-Enzersdorf
    Austria
    September 15, 2019
  • I Cormorán Film Fest
    La Coruña
    Spain
    September 11, 2019
  • X KINOLIKBEZ
    Saint Petersburg
    Russian Federation
    July 3, 2019
    Russian Premiere
  • XLVIII Festival Of Nations
    Lenzing
    Austria
    June 11, 2019
    Best Documentary Nominee
  • II 573 International Film Festival
    Perryville
    United States
    June 9, 2019
  • I New Dreams International Film Festival
    West Hollywood
    United States
    May 30, 2019
  • I Grand Teton Film Festival
    Rexburg
    United States
    May 31, 2019
  • XIII SorsiCorti Short Film Festival
    Palermo
    Italy
    June 1, 2019
  • XXIX MEDIAWAVE International Film And Music Festival
    Győr
    Hungary
    April 30, 2019
    Hungarian Premiere
  • III Esto Es Para Esto
    Monterrey
    Mexico
    April 10, 2019
  • VIII Fort Myers Film Festival
    Fort Myers
    United States
    April 9, 2019
  • I Le Prince International Film Festival
    Caracas
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    March 3, 2019
    Venezuelan Premiere
  • II Southern City Film Festival
    Aiken
    United States
    February 22, 2019
    South Carolina Premiere
  • I World Freedom Film Festival
    Los Ángeles
    United States
    December 14, 2018
  • I Kinomorphia Film Festival
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    December 13, 2018
    Bulgarian Premiere
  • II LIFFT INDIA, World Cine Fest
    Lonavala
    India
    December 8, 2018
    Lonavala Premiere
  • V Mira - Festival De Cine Latinoamericano Independiente
    Bonn
    Germany
    December 1, 2018
  • XI Festival CinemaZERO
    Trento
    Italy
    December 1, 2018
  • IV Proxy Act International Short Film & Digital Arts Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    November 30, 2018
    German Premiere
  • X Festival Internacional de Cinema da Fronteira
    Santana Do Livramento
    Brazil
    November 28, 2018
  • XXIV Caminhos Film Festival
    Coimbra
    Portugal
    November 27, 2018
  • I Istanbul International Experimental Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    November 23, 2018
  • I Chitrapushp International Short Film Festival
    New Bombay
    India
    November 16, 2018
  • XII PRVI KADAR - International Film Festival
    Sarajevo
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    November 15, 2018
    Bosnian Premiere
  • I Hypwerwave Film Awards
    Los Ángeles
    United States
    November 14, 2018
    Semi-Finalist
  • III BiciCine Medellín
    Medellín
    Colombia
    November 13, 2018
  • II North Dakota Human Rights Film & Arts Festival
    North Dakota
    United States
    November 12, 2018
  • XXXV Tehran International Short Film Festival
    Tehran
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
    November 10, 2018
    Iranian Premiere
  • II Lost River Film Festival
    San Marcos
    United States
    November 1, 2018
  • X Rodinia Short Film Festival
    Rodinia
    Spain
    November 1, 2018
  • I Independent Talents International Film Festival
    Bloomington
    United States
    October 31, 2018
  • VIII FIBABC: Festival Iberoamericano de Cortometrajes ABC
    Madrid
    Spain
    October 29, 2018
  • I LaFaz de la Tierra
    Buenos Aires
    Argentina
    October 20, 2018
  • XLIV Filmets Badalona Film Festival
    Badalona
    Spain
    October 20, 2018
  • VI My Mumbai International Short Film Festival
    Mumbai
    India
    October 21, 2018
    Indian Premiere
    Best Foreign Short Film Nominee
  • I Austin Arthouse Film Festival
    Austin
    United States
    October 20, 2018
    Maya Deren Award, Dario Argento Award Nominee
  • LI Festival Internacional De Cine De Viña Del Mar
    Viña Del Mar
    Chile
    October 18, 2018
    Best Latinamerican Short Film Nominee
  • VII Resistencia Film Fest
    Tomé
    Chile
    October 18, 2018
  • IV Bangiff - Bangkokthai International Film Festival
    Bangkok
    Thailand
    October 14, 2018
    Thai Premiere
  • I Linz International Short Film Festival
    Linz
    Austria
    October 13, 2018
    Austrian Premiere
  • I Festival Internacional De Cine De Almirante Brown
    Almirante Brown
    Argentina
    October 12, 2018
    Best Cinematography, Best Documentary Short Film Nominee
  • V Festival Mundial de Cine Extremo de Veracruz
    Veracruz
    Mexico
    October 8, 2018
    Special Jury Mention: Experimental Short Film
  • VIII Golden Eye, International Festival of Cameramen
    Tbilisi
    Georgia
    September 28, 2018
    Georgian Premiere
  • X San Francisco Latino Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    September 23, 2018
  • I Rieti & Sabina Film Festival
    Rieti
    Italy
    September 22, 2018
  • IV Dobra: Festival Internacional De Cinema Experimental
    São Paulo
    Brazil
    September 22, 2018
    Brazilian Premiere
  • V Festival Internazionale Del Cinema Povero
    Ispra
    Italy
    September 22, 2018
  • VI Cervignano Film Festival
    Cervignano del Friuli
    Italy
    September 20, 2018
  • XV Corto Creativo, Festival y Muestra Internacional de cortometrajes
    Tijuana
    Mexico
    September 20, 2018
  • XI FilmAid Film Festival
    Nairobi
    Kenya
    September 18, 2018
    Kenyan Premiere
  • V Mostra Livre de Cinema
    São Paulo
    Brazil
    September 17, 2018
    Brazilian Premiere
  • III Premios Latino
    Marbella
    Spain
    September 15, 2018
    Best Direction (Short Film Category), Best Production (Short Film Category)
  • II Norman Film Festival
    Norman
    United States
    September 15, 2018
  • V Soo Film Festival
    Sault Ste. Marie
    United States
    September 14, 2018
  • III Cefalù Film Festival
    Cefalù
    Italy
    September 8, 2018
  • I Catskill International Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    September 9, 2018
    Best Cinematography Nominee
  • XIII Encuentro De Videocorto A Pantalla Abierta
    Toluca
    Mexico
    September 6, 2018
  • IV INVICINES, Festival de Cine Social
    Córdoba
    Argentina
    September 2, 2018
  • I FENACIR, Festival Nacional De Cine De Rioverde
    Río Verde
    Mexico
    August 24, 2018
  • II Baja California International Film Festival
    Tijuana
    Mexico
    August 24, 2018
  • I Compassion Film Festival
    Carbondale
    United States
    August 18, 2018
  • XXXIII FIFAK, Festival International du Film Amateur de Kélibia
    Kelibia
    Tunisia
    August 16, 2018
    African & Tunisian Premiere
  • II ENEAGRAMA Festival Internacional de Cine Experimental
    Córdoba
    Argentina
    August 11, 2018
  • XIV MARFICI, Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de Mar del Plata
    Mar del Plata
    Argentina
    August 10, 2018
  • III VEA, Bienal Internacional de Videoarte y Animación Puebla
    Puebla
    Mexico
    August 9, 2018
    Second Place Prize
  • III Dalmatia Film Festival
    Pirovac
    Croatia
    August 3, 2018
    Croatian Premiere
  • I Edera Film Festival
    Treviso
    Italy
    August 2, 2018
    Special Jury Mention
  • V Panorámica, Muestra De Cine Independiente
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    August 1, 2018
  • I Hong Kong Film Art International Film Festival
    Hong Kong
    China
    July 29, 2018
    Chinese Premiere
  • II San Benedetto Film Fest
    San Benedetto del Tronto
    Italy
    July 18, 2018
  • I Lebanese Independent Film Festival
    Beirut
    Lebanon
    July 14, 2018
    Lebanese Premiere
    Best Foreign Short Documentary Nominee
  • VII Nebrodi Filmfest
    Patti
    Italy
    July 13, 2018
  • X Interrobang Film Festival
    Des Moines
    United States
    June 22, 2018
  • III The Bureau Of Creative Works
    Running Springs
    United States
    June 20, 2018
  • II Temecula International Film Festival
    Temecula
    United States
    June 19, 2018
  • I Jelly Film Festival
    Sunland
    United States
    June 10, 2018
    Semi-Finalist
  • II LASFIBA: Latin American Short Film Festival Barcelona
    Barcelona
    Spain
    June 7, 2018
    Best Experimental Short Film Nominee
  • I MAD: Muestra Audiovisual Documental
    Mazatlán
    Mexico
    June 1, 2018
  • XVIII The Unprecedented Cinema International Short Film Festival
    Tallinn
    Estonia
    June 1, 2018
    Estonian Premiere
    Best Documentary Short Film Nominee
  • I Brighton Rocks Film Festival
    Brighton Rocks
    United Kingdom
    May 25, 2018
    Finalist
  • IX Short To The Point Film Festival
    Bucharest
    Romania
    May 20, 2018
    Romanian Premiere
    Best Experimental Short Film Nominee
  • I Grecanica International Film Festival
    Roghudi
    Italy
    May 20, 2018
  • IV CineAutopsia: Festival de Cine Experimental de Bogotá
    Bogotá
    Colombia
    May 18, 2018
  • IX Salón Internacional de la Luz
    Bogotá
    Colombia
    May 15, 2018
  • XVIII Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes Radio City
    Valencia
    Spain
    May 13, 2018
  • XII Rendibú Festival de Artes
    Murcia
    Spain
    May 10, 2018
    Finalist
  • XVIII DOCBuenosAires
    Buenos Aires
    Argentina
    May 3, 2018
    Buenos Aires Premiere
  • II San Lorenzo Film Festival
    San Lorenzo
    Paraguay
    April 15, 2018
    Paraguayan Premiere
    Best Documentary Short Film Nominee
  • IV Tlanchana Fest
    Metepec
    Mexico
    April 15, 2018
    Best Documentary Short Film
  • VI Changing Perspectives International Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    April 13, 2018
    Turkish Premiere
  • XIII Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
    Gilroy
    United States
    April 7, 2018
  • XXIV Short Cutz Funchal
    Funchal
    Portugal
    April 4, 2018
  • XXXII Fribourg International Film Festival
    Fribourg
    Switzerland
    March 23, 2018
    Swiss Premiere
    Best International Short Film Nominee
  • VIII Festival Internacional de Cine Álamos Mágico
    Álamos, Sonora
    Mexico
    March 16, 2018
    Sonoran Premiere
  • III Lanús International Film Festival
    Lanús
    Argentina
    March 3, 2018
    Argentinian Premiere
    Best International Documentary Short Film
  • VI MagikalCharm Experimental Video & Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    February 20, 2018
    Franco Zeffirelli Spirit Award
  • II Festival Internacional de Cine Silente México
    Puebla
    Mexico
    February 15, 2018
    Best Experimental Short Film Nominee
  • III South London Shorts
    London
    United Kingdom
    February 1, 2018
    English Premiere
  • IX Cinalfama Lisbon Internatioanl Film Festival
    Lisboa
    Portugal
    January 24, 2018
    Portugal Premiere
    Best Short Film, Best Direction, Best Music
  • III Pugnant Film Series
    Athens
    Greece
    January 14, 2018
    Greek Premiere
  • VII Bronx World Film Cycle
    New York
    United States
    January 13, 2018
    US Premiere
  • I Pendance Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    December 15, 2017
    North American Premiere
  • XI Atlantidoc
    Atlántida
    Uruguay
    December 1, 2017
    South American Premiere, Uruguayan Premiere
  • III Festival del Puerto
    Puerto Escondido
    Mexico
    November 23, 2017
    Best Short film
  • III Cholula Film Fest
    Cholula, Puebla
    Mexico
    November 17, 2017
  • IV Campeche Film Fest
    Campeche
    Mexico
    November 16, 2017
    Best National Short film Nominee
  • XII Shorts Mexico
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    September 7, 2017
    Mexican Premiere
Distribution Information
  • METAXINEMA
    Country: Mexico
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Isaac Ruiz Gastélum

IRG is a mexican filmmaker influenced by various aesthetic expressions such as literature, poetry, painting, photography and cinema, as well as knowledge from fields such as philosophy and transpersonal psychology. In 2012 he founds the independent film production company 'METAXINEMA', developing over time a work of an experimental nature, transcendental character and existentialist features, accusing a narrative language and own style that the author himself calls 'Metacinegrafía' or 'Metacinema'. His work has been shown in 40 countries on 4 continents.

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Director Statement

If -as quantum mechanics dictates, the observer exerts an influence over the observed- becoming coauthor of the facts, then I see cinema as a mystic machine that penetrates objectively in reality, inseminating visions that fecundate universes.