Video: Afrodita - "Flores Para Ti" + ACLM Winners

Aside from managing Club Fonograma, I also have some administrative duties with the ACLM (La Asociación de Críticos en Línea de México), a selective group of film critics, bloggers, scholars & cinephiles that every year, celebrates Mexican cinema. The Academy Awards are fooling you, Biutiful was not the best Mexican film of 2010, actually, I'm not convinced it's a good film at all. But as always, we recognize every democratic organization for what it's worth (and it's a matter of taste after all). Out of the 44 Mexican commercial releases, the ACLM highlights Michael Rowe's first film Año Bisiesto, as the year's authentic cinematic treasure.

"La soledad consumidora y acompañante de una mujer en crisis, es el despampanante debut de Michael Crowe. Sexualmente violento, enternecedor al mas no poder, el retrato intimista de una vida que en su caída, empieza a retoñar." (Carlos Reyes, Dossier Cinéphiles Cine-Files 2010)

The film produced by Machete Producciones & IMCINE, also took the recognitions for Directing, Debut Film, Actress (Monica del Carmen), Sound and Original Song. This last prize is particularly exciting as it went to Club Fonograma-favorite Afrodita, who battled out the category with the likes of Julieta Venegas (Abel), Hello Seahorse!'s LoBlondo (Hidalgo) and Pare de Sufrir w/ Ruben Albarran (Los Ultimos Heroes de la Peninsula). Previous winners in this category include Emmanuel del Real, Chetes, and Devendra Banhart.

Full list of winners, HERE.

ACLM Winners - Best Film

2007: Stellet Licht (Carlos Reygadas)

2008: Parpados Azules (Ernesto Contreras)

2009: Intimidades de Shakespeare y Victor Hugo (Yulene Olaizola)

2010: Año Bisiesto (Michael Rowe)

ACLM Best Mexican Films of 2010

01. Año Bisiesto (Michael Rowe)

02. El Infierno (Luis Estrada)

03. Norteado (Rigoberto Perezcano)

04. Rabia (Sebastian Cordero)

05. Abel (Diego Luna)

06. Biutiful (Alejandro Gonzales Iñarritu)

07. Vaho (Alejandro Gerber)

08. Chicogrande (Felipe Cazals)

09. Las Buenas Hierbas (Maria Novaro)

10. Somos Lo Que Hay (Jorge Michel Grau)

ACLM Best International Films of 2010 (by Mexican release date)

01. The White Ribbon (Michael Haneke, Austria)

02. Hunger (Steven MQueen, UK)

03. The Social Network (David Fincher, USA)

04. The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow, USA)

05. A Serious Man (Coen Bros. USA)

06. A Prophet (Jacques Audiard, France)

07. La Teta Asustada (Claudia Llosa, Peru)

08. El Secreto de Sus Ojos (Juan Jose Campanella, Argentina)

09. The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo (Niels Arden Oplev)

10. Inception (Christopher Nolan)