Dafoe charms audiences at FIG

Willem Dafoe participated in the 32th edition of the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG), which features Germany as a guest country for this year's edition.

Dafoe attended a special screening of My Hindu Friend last film of Argentinian director Héctor Barbenco, who passed away last year. The film has not clinched any distribution rights so far, and Dafoe hopes that its screening in Mexico can boost it screening elsewhere.

During an interview for members of the press, a friendly Dafoe told some of the anecdotes surrounding Opus Zero, Mexican film shot at Real del Catorce, San Luis Potosí and which premiered last October in Morelia Film Fest, “The movie was originally going to be shot in France, then Mexico took production of the film and proposed the director to transpose the script to Mexico which resulted in a movie with a completely different feeling to it… the fact that I’m shooting in Mexico was the thing that made me say yes”.

Dafoe also took the opportunity to express his views on Mexican cinema, “Quite frankly, I do not pretend to know Mexican cinema well, because outside festivals it’s only through friends that I’ve seen the lower budget, but very interesting Mexican films...they all have energy, optimism and a good cinema sense.”

During the opening ceremony of the 32th edition of the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) several guests commented on Trump administration proposed border wall to which Dafoe said: “Last night when I was watching the opening ceremony I thought, at little moments I thought, this is kind of an anti-Trump rally, and yes I come from America and I do own an American passport but I am also Italian. I like to think of myself as a citizen of the world. I’m with you guys, my mind is thinking much more outside of the U.S.”

Attendees to the press conference cheered the renowned actor in a relaxed and pleasant environment which showed Dafoe's affection for our country.

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