Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - The stars will be shining bright over Banderas Bay this month, as the University of Guadalajara's Centro Universitario de la Costa (CUCosta) welcomes actors, film directors and movie fanatics from all over Mexico and the world to the Nineteenth Annual Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival (FICPV).

With Chile as the guest of honor, FICPV 19 kicked off on March 11th, and continues through the 22nd, giving movie buffs the opportunity to enjoy free screenings of films from Mexico and the world, at various venues in Puerto Vallarta.

Since the 2017 edition, the festival has broadened its programming and its sections with the sole purpose of reaching new audiences and, at the same time, extending the taste for cinema among people of all ages and all walks of life.

This year's film festival includes more than 50 movie screenings divided into twelve sections: Official, Academic, Senior, Environmental, Cross-border Cinema, Short Films, "Echoes of the Cork Film Festival" and "Echoes of Havana," Gourmet, Children, Musicals and Maguey Awards.

Now in its sixth year as part of the FICPV, the Maguey Awards will showcase seven LGBTTTI films, including Mapplethorpe, Leave it to Levi, Un Rubio, Una Viaje en Taxi, Hasta Que el Porno Nos Separe, Man Made, and Carmen y Lola.

As a posthumous tribute to the iconic American photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe, the FICPV will present "Tribute to Robert Mapplethorpe," a black and white photographic exhibition, which will be on display within the framework of the Maguey Award segment of the festival.

Other academic activities open to the public include art and film exhibits, lectures, workshops and book readings.

As every year, the festival's highest award, 'The Golden Iguana,' will be presented to outstanding personalities who have made significant contributions to world cinema. With the passing of time, the medal has become an icon of the festival, as it bears one of the most representative symbols of Puerto Vallarta.

In addition, there will be parallel activities such as the 'Huston Film and Literature Chair,' which will be attended by actress Diana Bracho (Mexico); Fiona Clark, director of the Cork Film Festival (Ireland); Esther García, production director of El Deseo (production house of Pedro Almodóvar); and Kevin Scott (Canada), the special effects director of Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-winning film, The Shape of Water.

Though the Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival is based at the Centro Universitario de la Costa, parks and public forums, educational and cultural institutions, shopping centers, restaurants and other entertainment centers have been added as screening venues for this year's featured films.

Some of the FICPV 19 venues are: Los Arcos del Malecón amphitheater, Lázaro Cárdenas and Los Sauces parks, UdeG Gourmet Station Gastronomy School, Puerto Vallarta Regional Preparatory School, Auditorio Cifuentes, The Jazz Foundation, Vela Lounge PV, The Top Sky Bar, La Nata by La Leche Almacén Gourmet, Villa Mercedes Petit Hotel and Oficina de Proyectos Culturales (OPC).

All events are free and open to the public. Don't miss it! For movie listings and screening times (in Spanish), please visit the film festival's official website.