Michel Francos New Order to open Films from the South 2020

The award-winning Mexican thriller has the honour of opening the 30th edition of the Films from the South Festival on November 26.

Atli Bjarnason, 22 Oct 2020

This year's Films from the South Festival runs from November 26 - December 6, and it is the award-winning political thriller New Order, distributed by Tour de Force, which kicks off the 11-day festival. The film is also screened in the festival's Main Competition, and is part of a broader focus on Mexico.

Director Michel Franco goes all the way as he paints a dystopian picture of what might happen in Mexico if the leaders of society does not step up. As a recent winner of the Special Jury Prize at this year's Venice Film Festival, Franco has made what is perhaps his darkest film to date. New Order is a clear political commentary on what is now happening in Mexico, where there is reason to fear that rising inequality between the poor and rich could have disastrous consequences.

In addition to New Order, you will have an opportunity to catch Franco’s After Lucia (2012) and Daniel & Ana (2009) at this year's festival.

– New Order hit us immediately. It feels acutely relevant, and Michel Franco is completely uncompromising in his description of economic inequality and violent rebellion. We are very pleased that Films from the South opens the festival with the film, and we look forward to having the audience getting to experience it" says Kristian Fyllingsnes, Head of Distribution at Tour de Force.

New Order will have its theatrical release in February 2021.

In addition to Franco's films, the focus section on Mexico offers five other strong films as well as several events.

Among these is Sanctorum by director Joshua Gil, which we present at a special screening in the Jakob Church of Culture on Monday, November 2, on the occasion of the Mexican holiday The Day of the Dead.

Read more about the screening here.