Mexico has chosen the winner of the Sundance Film Festival Juice to represent the country at the 2025 Oscars in the Best International Film category. The drama of Identifying features directors Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez debuted at Sundance this year, where it won the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema. It is currently touring festivals and will screen at San Sebastian and the London Film Festival this fall.
The coming-of-age story focuses on protagonist Sujo, the son of a small-town cartel hitman who is orphaned when his father is murdered as a traitor. Under constant threat of death (cartels traditionally kill the male heirs of murdered members lest they grow up to avenge their fathers), Sujo hides out in the mountains, living in isolation with only his aunts and two young cousins for company. But as a young man, Sujo, played by Identifying features Actor Juan Jesús Varela returns to the world of crime and clashes with his father's legacy.
The cast also includes Yadira Pérez, Alexis Varela, Sandra Lorenzano, Jairo Hernández and Kevin Aguilar Juice. Rondero and Valadez produced the film, along with Diana Casarreal, Jewerl Keats Ross, Virginie Devesa, Jean-Baptiste Bailly-Maitre and Nicolas Celis.
The Forge has acquired North American rights to the film and will release it in limited release on November 29.
Mexico has received 9 nominations for Best International Film and has won once: with Alfonso Cuarón Rome in 2018. In the last 4 years, every Mexican candidacy — that of Lila Avilés Totemby Alejandro G. Iñárritu Bardby Tatiana Huezo Prayers for the Stolenand Fernando Frias I'm not here anymore —was shortlisted for an Oscar but failed to get nominated.
The shortlist for the 2025 Best International Feature Award will be announced on December 17. Nominations are due on January 17, 2025, and the winners of the 97th Academy Awards will be announced on March 2.