Morelia fest sets competition

MEXICO CITY -- The ninth Morelia Film Festival unveiled its key Mexican competition lineup Monday. Counting works from five femme filmmakers among the eight pics in the running, the fest is quickly gaining industry pull as a hothouse revue for up-and-coming local directors presenting their first or second works. Lucia Carreras, co-scribe for 2010 Cannes Camera d'Or winner "Leap Year," will see the world preem of her first outing as helmer, "See You, Dad." At least three of the films have had international fest play this year: Paula Markovitch's "The Prize" (El premio) unspooled in Berlin in February and at Guadalajara in March; Yulene Olaizola's "Artificial Paradise" ("Paraisos artificiales") played in Tribeca and Seattle; and from Venice comes Kyzza Terrazas' feature debut, "Machete Language" ("El lenguaje de los machetes"). Terrazas is a frequent collaborator with Canana Films. Kenya Marquez, a former director of the Guadalajara Film Festival, is competing with her first film, "Expiration Date" (Fecha de caducidad). Matias Meyer has a second chance at the prize with his follow-up to 2009's "The Cramp" (El calambre), "Los ultimos cristeros." Also up is Carlos "Hari" Sama's "El sueno de Lu" (literally, "Lu's Dream"). Rounding out the competish is "Mi universo en minusculas" from recent film school grad Hatuey Viveros. Fest runs Oct. 15-23. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com