The Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences (AMACC) announced on Monday the seventeen films that will seek to represent Mexico in the upcoming editions of the Oscars and Goya Awards. The selection includes a diverse range of titles, from literary adaptations and festival award-winners to genre films and debut features, reflecting the breadth of contemporary Mexican cinema.

Among the standout titles is "Ceniza en la boca," the adaptation of Brenda Navarro's novel of the same name, directed by Diego Luna. Also included is "Moscas" by Fernando Eimbcke, which was nominated for Best Film at the Berlinale and won the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the festival's 76th edition. The list further features "En el camino" by David Pablos, which recently led the Ariel Awards nominations and earned the Best Film prize in the Horizons section—dedicated to new cinematic trends—at the Venice Film Festival.

The third feature film directed by Mexican actor Gael García Bernal, "Hombre al agua," is among the registered titles, along with "El jardín que soñamos" by Joaquín del Paso, which debuted at the Berlinale and later received the Best Ibero-American Film award at the Málaga Film Festival. Other contenders include "La reserva," the big winner at the last Morelia International Film Festival (FICM); "Cocodrilos," "Las mutaciones," "Las olas," "Flamingos," "La eterna adolescente," and "Campeón Gabacho," directed by Jonás Cuarón (son of Alfonso Cuarón). All of these will vie to represent Mexico at the 99th Oscars and the 41st Goya Awards.

Ernesto Martínez Bucio also appears on the list with "El diablo fuma (y guarda las cabezas de los cerillos quemados en la misma caja)," which recently received eight Ariel nominations and won the Best First Feature award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Of the seventeen feature films registered, only three have women directors: "Oca" by Karla Badillo, "Chicas tristes" by Fernanda Tovar, and "Un hijo propio" by Maite Alberdi, a co-production between Mexico and Chile. Horror cinema also made its presence felt among the submitted works with "No dejes a los niños solos" by filmmaker Emilio Portes, a story that explores fear through a mother's anguish.