AWARDS
Author Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Feature Drama
”La Pura Vida”Williamsburg International Film & Music Competition 2024
Honorable Mention for Best International Narrative Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”12th Rosarito International Film Festival 2024
Best Mexican Feature
”La Pura Vida”Filmmaker Chicago Awards 2024
Best Original Score
”La Pura Vida” - Karl PettersenInternational Gold Awards 2024
Silver Award for Best Director
”La Pura Vida”International Gold Awards 2024
Silver Award for Best Producer
”La Pura Vida”International Gold Awards 2024
Silver Award for Best Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy RomoInternational Gold Awards 2024
Gold Award for Best Original Score
”La Pura Vida” - Karl PettersenCine Pobre Film Festival 2024
Best Self Funded Film
”La Pura Vida”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Screenplay
”La Pura Vida”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy RomoValle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Original Music
”La Pura Vida” - Karl PettersenValle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Supporting Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Angélica GonzálezValle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Supporting Actor
”La Pura Vida” - Hebert AxelPrague Underground Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Women Emancipation Project
”La Pura Vida”Santa Cruz Independent Film Festival 2024
Festival Award for Best Actor in a Feature Film
”La Pura Vida” - Filiberto GonzálezSanta Cruz Independent Film Festival 2024
Festival Award for Best Actress in a Feature Film
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy RomoIslampur International Film Festival 2024
Certificate of Appreciation for Best Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Luis Buñuel Memorial Awards 2024
Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”Tabriz Cinema Awards 2024
Best Comedy/Dark Comedy
”La Pura Vida”Tabriz Cinema Awards 2024
Best Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy RomoBrazil International Film Festival 2024
Best Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”David Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Feature
”La Pura Vida”David Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Cinematography
”La Pura Vida”David Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Actor
”La Pura Vida” - Filiberto GonzálezDavid Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy RomoNew York Arthouse Film Festival 2024
Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”Europa Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Feature
”La Pura Vida”PAMA Paris Art and Movie Awards 2024
PAMA Award for Best Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Sacramento Independent Film Festival 2024
Best Acting Ensemble
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy Romo, Filiberto González, Angélica González, Oscar Reyes, Hebert Axel, Aidée González, Vladimir Zamudio, Diana Cuevas, Pepe MogtBrandenburg International Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”Brandenburg International Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy RomoCalcutta International Cult Film Festival 2024
Best International Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”New York International Women Festival 2024
Best Film About Women
”La Pura Vida”Phuket International Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”The Great Britain Silver Screen Awards 2024
Honorable Mention for Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”AIMAFF Athens International Art Film Festival 2024
Best Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Hong Kong International Film Carnival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”Stockholm City Film Festival 2024
Best Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy RomoStockholm City Film Festival 2024
Best Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Stockholm City Film Festival 2024
Best Director
”La Pura Vida”London Independent Film Awards 2024
Best Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Sweden Film Awards 2023
Sweden Film Award for Best Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Sweden Film Awards 2023
Sweden Film Award for Best Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy RomoDubai International Cine Carnival Film Festival 2023
Festival Award for Best International Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”Singapore Independent Film Fair 2023
Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”Dhaka International Cultural Film Festival 2023
Jury Award for Best Women’s Film
”La Pura Vida”Toronto International Filmmakers’ Festival 2023
Critic’s Choice for Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”The Grand Film Festival of Maldives 2023
Best Director
”La Pura Vida”Berlin Motion Picture Awards 2023
Outstanding Achievement for Best Director
”La Pura Vida”Berlin Motion Picture Awards 2023
Outstanding Achievement for Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”Berlin Motion Picture Awards 2023
Best Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Angélica GonzálezSwedish Academy of Motion Picture Awards 2023
Best Director
”La Pura Vida”Sydney Global Cinema Festival 2023
Jury Prize for Best Director
”La Pura Vida”Paris Cine Festival 2023
Outstanding Achievement for Best International Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”Shorts Mexico 2024
Honorable Mention for Best Mexican Documentary
”Kumeyaay Land”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Special Jury Award for Best Documentary Short
”Kumeyaay Land”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Special Jury Award for Best Resilient Spirit
”Kumeyaay Land” - Angel DíazMilano Indie Movie Awards 2024
Jury Prize for Best Documentary
”Kumeyaay Land”Absurd Film Festival 2024
Genre Award Best Documentary
”Kumeyaay Land”LANAFF Latino & Native American Film Festival 2024
Environmental, Social, Economic, Political Justice Award
”Kumeyaay Land”Monza Film Fest 2024
Honorable Mention for Best Documentary
”Kumeyaay Land”APEX Film Awards 2024
Honorable Mention for Best Documentary Short Film
”Kumeyaay Land”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Grand Jury Prize for Best Music Video
”Von Haze: Mother Mountain”Zanzibar International Film Festival 2019
Golden Dhow for Best Short Film
”Sega” directed by Idil IbrahimBlackStar Film Festival 2019
Best Narrative Film
”Sega” directed by Idil IbrahimInternational Cycling Film Festival 2016
Honorable Mention for Best Feature Film
”The Alley Cat” directed by Marie UllrichDiversity in Cannes 2015
Black Lives Black Stories Matter
”BlackCard” directed by Pete ChatmonBeloit International Film Festival 2015
Epoch Award
”The Alley Cat” directed by Marie UllrichChicago International Film Festival 2014
Chicago Award for Best Feature Film
”The Alley Cat” directed by Marie UllrichSt Tropez International Film Festival 2014
Best Cinematography
”The Warrior and the Savior” directed by Sal SorrentinoHonolulu International Film Festival 2012
Silver Lei Award for Best Feature Film
”American Florence” directed by Alessio GiorgettiOut In The Desert Tucson LGBT International Film Festival 2012
Best International Feature
”Tierra madre”IMCED 2011
Filmmaking Award of Recognition
”Tierra madre”FICM Morelia International Film Festival 2010
Special Jury Award for Best Mexican Feature Film
”Tierra madre”Chicago Reeling LGBTQ+ International Film Festival 2010
Best Narrative Feature
”Tierra madre”Cine Gay & Lesbico de Barcelona 2010
Diversity Award for Best Feature Film
”Tierra madre”Williamsburg International Film Festival 2010
Outstanding Achievement for Best International Narrative Feature Film
”Tierra madre”Cinesul Ibero-American Film Festival 2010
Best Picture
”Tierra madre”New Jersey Film Festival 2010
Honorable Mention for Best Film
”Tierra madre”Mexico International Film Festival 2010
Golden Palm for Best Film
”Tierra madre”Honolulu International Film Festival 2010
Silver Lei Award for Best Feature Film
”Tierra madre”Honolulu International Film Festival 2010
Excellence in Filmmaking
”Tierra madre”WorldFest Houston Film Festival 2010
Gold Remi Prize for Best Feature
”Tierra madre”UN Artivist Film Festival 2010
Children’s Advocacy Best Feature
”Kids of the Majestic”The National Association of Film and Digital Media Artists 2009
Directing Insight Award of Recognition
”Kids of the Majestic”The National Association of Film and Digital Media Artists 2009
Writing Insight Award of Recognition
”Kids of the Majestic”Milano International Film Festival 2009
Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary
”Pictiure Me” directed by Ole Schell and Sarah ZiffAva Awards 2009
Gold Prize TV for Best Commercial
”Black Phone Card”Ava Awards 2009
Platinum Prize for Best Campaign
”Black Phone Card”MarCom Awards 2009
Gold Prize
”Black Phone Card”MarCom Awards 2009
Platinum Prize for Best Campaign
”Black Phone Card”Slamdance Film Festival 2007
Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature
”Tijuana Makes Me Happy”San Antonio Film Festival 2007
Indie Max for Best Feature Film
”Tijuana Makes Me Happy”Brooklyn Film Festival 2004
Audience Award for Best Documentary
”Arakimentari” directed by Travis KloseBrooklyn Film Festival 2004
Best Original Score
”Arakimentari” directed by Travis KloseInternational Festival of Cinema and Technology 2003
IFCT World Tour Award for Best Actor
”The Laughter of God” - Pierre O’FarrellInternational Festival of Cinema and Technology2003
IFCT World Tour Award for Best Cinematography
”The Laughter of God” - Mario PegoraroInternational Festival of Cinema and Technology 2003
IFCT World Tour Award for Best Director
”The Laughter of God”
NOMINATIONS
Red Nation Film Festival 2024
Film Award of Excellence for Best Documentary Short Subject
”Kumeyaay Land”Barcelona Indie Awards 2024
Jury Prize for Best Short Documentary
”Kumeyaay Land”European Cinematography Awards 2024
Best Director
”La Pura Vida”YETI FilmFest 2024
Emerging Filmmaker Award
”La Pura Vida”Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival 2024
Festival Award Semi-Finalist
”La Pura Vida”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Actor
”La Pura Vida” - Filiberto GonzálezValle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Supporting Actor
”La Pura Vida” - Vladimir ZamudioValle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Supporting Actor
”La Pura Vida” - Oscar ReyesValle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Supporting Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Aidée GonzálezMalibu Film Festival 2024
Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”FARO International Film Festival 2024
Best Emerging Director
”La Pura Vida”Santa Cruz Independent Film Festival 2024
Festival Award for Best International Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Orlando Independent Film Festival 2024
Best Women Empowerment
”La Pura Vida”San José Independent Film Festival 2024
Festival Award Best Narrative Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”San José Independent Film Festival 2024
Best Actor/Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy RomoPalermo International Film Festival 2024
Festival Award for Best International Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Rotterdam Independent Film Festival 2024
Lion Award for Best Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Dumbo Film Festival 2024
Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature
”La Pura Vida”Hong Kong Indie Film Festival 2024
Best Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”LA Sun Film Fest 2024
Best Indie Film
”La Pura Vida”LIA Liverpool Indie Awards 2024
Best Indie Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Istanbul Movie Awards 2024
Best Drama
”La Pura Vida”Melbourne Independent Film Festival 2024
Best Feature Film
”La Pura Vida”Atlanta Movies Awards 2024
Best International Feature
”La Pura Vida”Los Angeles Independent Women Film Awards 2024
Best Actress
”La Pura Vida” - Naomy RomoValle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature
”Kids of the Majestic”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Cinematography in a Narrative
”A Seed of Maize”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film
”Sega”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Actor
”Sega”Valle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Rama de Oro for Best Editing in a Narrative
”Von Haze: Mother Mountain” - Alessio GiorgettiValle de Guadalupe Film Festival 2024
Kurrak Grand Jury Prize for Best Music Video
”Lucky Logan: Black Morning”AndaLesGai Film Festival 2011
Best Film
”Tierra madre”Chéries-Chéris Film Festival 2011
Grand Prize Chéries-Chéris for Best Feature Film
”Tierra madre”MIX Mexico Festival 2011
Ulises Carrión Award for Best Film
”Tierra madre”Gen Art Film Festival 2010
Best Feature
”Tierra madre”LesGaiCineMad Madrid International LGBT Film Festival 2010
Jury Prize for Cine Disidente
”Tierra madre”Oldenburg Film Festival 2010
German Independence
”Tierra madre”Atlanta FIlm Festival 2010
Pink Peach
”Tierra madre”Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival 2007
Jury Award for Best Feature Film
”Tijuana Makes Me Happy”SWSW Film Festival 2005
SXSW Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature
”Strange Fruit” directed by Regis TriganoInternational Festival of Cinema and Technology 2003
IFCT World Tour Runner Up for Best Actress
”The Laughter of God” - Hila ShaniSCAD Savannah Film Festival 2000
Best Narrative Short Film
”The Laughter of God”
Press
Cineteca Nacional: Diccionario de directores de cine mexicano (read more…)
PBS Wisconsin: The photography is as engaging as the film’s characters. In this behind-the-scenes clip, (read more…)
Chicagoist: The movie deserves a mention for Marie Ullrich’s assured direction, its distinct local flavor, and some exceptional cinematography from Dylan Verrechia. (read more...)
50 Int'l Chicago Film Festival: A lot of help from Dylan Verrechia, the film’s Director of Photography. From the film’s opening moments, it becomes clear that there is an experienced cinematographer at work. (read more...)
Frank Hui: Life for most of us is not a scripted movie filled with amazing heroics or world-ending disasters. It consists of good moments that we take in and frustrating hurdles that we try to overcome. Neither a fairy tale nor a nightmare, it’s just life. If we’re lucky and strong enough we can face the obstacles and deal with them-and perhaps even achieve some happiness. The feature "Tierra Madre" encapsulates this perfectly. (read more...)
New York Times: On the Mexican border, erotic dancer Aidee Gonzalez struggles to raise her children, first alone and then with a new girlfriend, Rosalba, who works at the same club. When Rosalba decides to get pregnant, Aidee agrees to help her find a male donor but makes sure he is not an attractive romantic option for Rosalba. The arrival of the new child changes the family dynamic, forcing Aidee to reach out to friends and build the family she genuinely needs. ~ Baseline StudioSystems (read more...)
Time Out: The main feature is Dylan Verrechia's Mother Earth (Tierra Madre) about a woman struggling to keep her family together; a Q&A session with the filmmakers follows the screenings (read more...)
Arizona Daily Star: "Tierra Madre" is cinematically strong and offers a glimpse into experiences we have rarely, if ever, seen on film. ~ Beverly Seckinger (read more...)
Frommer's: Dylan Verrechia's Tijuana Makes Me Happy (2007), focusing on Tijuana's humanity rather than its perceived sins, has won awards in Latin America and at U.S. film festivals (read more...)
Artivist Film Festival: The Artivist Film Festival 2010 Awards Ceremony presents The Award for Best Feature in the Children's Advocacy category to "Kids of the Majestic". (watch it on YouTube...)
Artivist Film Festival: 7th Artivist Film Festival Announces Artivist Award Winning Films for 2010. (read more...)
Morelia International Film Festival: Winner X-Rays - 8• FICM / Interview with Dylan Verrechia. What moved you most in this story? Aideé’s struggle to provide her children with a good education. That’s the reason behind all of my projects: the place that we give to children. (read full interview in English...)
Correcamara: "Tierra madre" es un ejemplo puntual de que se puede hacer cine de manera transgresora, con una cámara de video, tres personas y sin depender de grandes presupuestos; pero también, de que el modo de producción marca el ritmo de la historia, pero no es la historia. Si Lucrecia Martel le hace justicia, "Tierra madre" tendría que erigirse con El Ojo al mejor largometraje de esta edición. (read more...)
Los Angeles Times: The filmmakers were on hand at the premiere screening in Morelia. Gonzalez was received with cheers and applause, with several audience members congratulating her for "bravely" demonstrating her truth as a woman, lesbian, stripper and native of the Tijuana border region. (read more...)
CNN Mexico: Entre la realidad y la ficción. De acuerdo con el género del falso documental, predominan las situaciones cotidianas, como en la que un grupo de mujeres charla en grupo sobre sus relaciones sexuales, lo que provoca la risa del público. El aspecto de la homosexualidad está tratado de manera casi tangencial, ya que las relaciones de la protagonista con otras mujeres son fruto de "una relación de cariño, de complicidad y solidaridad, más que de motivos sexuales", explica Verrechia. De este modo, se convierte en otra circunstancia y no el asunto principal de la cinta. (read more...)
Don't Label It!: Surreal Life. "Tierra madre" (Director: Dylan Verrechia), Shot in black and white with a stark documentary feel, this narrative tells the true story of Aidee Gonzalez. (read more...)
Fandango: One woman's struggle to find happiness under trying circumstances sets the stage for this drama from Mexican filmmaker Dylan Verrechia. Aidee Gonzalez (playing herself) was born and raised in a poor community and has struggled to make something of her life after ridding herself of a marriage to a shiftless and uncaring man. Aidee supports herself and her children as an exotic dancer, and her work at a shabby nightclub led her to meet Rosalba (Rosalba Venezuela), with whom she's finally found a loving relationship. Aidee and Rosalba want to buy a house together and start a family of their own; to that end, Aidee is saving her money to the extent that's possible, and Rosalba is looking for a man handsome enough to be a proper sperm donor (but not so good looking to charming that he's likely to steal Aidee away from her). Tierra Madre (aka Mother Earth) was an official selection at the 2010 San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi (read more...)
Poder Edomex: Por lo demás, en la elección de la protagonista respecto a su sexualidad no parece haber una postura ideológica, ni siquiera una reivindicación de género, y su decisión de compartir la vida con otra mujer tiene que ver más con el rechazo al machismo reinante que con su preferencia sexual. (read more...)
Platform Magazine: Dylan's filmography is as multicultural as his lineage and each film honestly explores the multifaceted aspects of identity, situation and context. This new-age independent filmmaker explores life and individual lives through his art and has created a very moving, real and honest piece of cinema with "Kids of the Majestic". (read more...)
New York Times: A young man will go to any lengths to make his dream come true in this independent drama from writer and director Dylan Verrechia. (read more...)
Moviefone: A young man will go to any lengths to make his dream come true in this independent drama from writer and director Dylan Verrechia. Indio (Pablo Tendilla Ortiz) is growing up with a poor family in the Mexican border town of Tijuana. Cockfighting is still a popular and lucrative sport in Tijuana, and Indio thinks he has what it takes to train a champion bird. As a present for his fifteenth birthday, Indio asks his father Jhonny (Pablo Tendilla Rocha) to get him a rooster that's up for sale from a local breeder who has helped spawn some winning birds. However, Jhonny can't afford the rooster, and instead buys his son an evening with Brianda (Darina Rabago Soto), a teenage prostitute. While Indio and Brianda strike up a brief romance, he's not about to give up his ambitions of training a winning rooster, and takes whatever odd jobs he can find to help raise the cash -- everything from washing cars to working as a drug mule. Tijuana Makes Me Happy received its premiere at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival, where it received the Jury Prize for Best Dramatic Feature. - Mark Deming, Rovi (read more...)
Variety: "Tijuana Makes Me Happy" is an example of nuevo-realism, with nonprofessionals cast in a semi-documentary-style dramedy shot on location in and around Tijuana. (...) The unaffected quality is genuinely impressive across the board. Pablo Tendilla Ortiz is an artlessly engaging screen presence as Indio, the pic's young protagonist. (read more...)
Adam Donaghey on IMDb: A charming coming-of-age film with fantastic shots of the 'real' Mexico. (read more...)
IFC Center: I was rejuvenated when I left the IFC Center in New York City after seeing Tijuana Makes Me Happy, directed by Dylan Verrechia and produced by James Lefkowitz, which won the Grand Jury prize for Best Narrative Feature at Slamdance in Park City this year. A coming-of-age story about a young boy growing to manhood in Playas de Tijuana, Verrechia and Lefkowitz's film is an invigorating fusion of fiction and reality that rises to the challenge of powerful storytelling and fun, innovative film-making. (...) That Verrechia and Lefkowitz have succeeded in creating a universally appealing Tijuana-based tale at a time when the American government and countless citizens regularly denounce people from south of the border is an accomplishment and a contribution. (read more...)