Identifying Features
Directed by Fernanda Valadez
Middle-aged Magdalena (Mercedes Hernandez) has lost contact with her son after he took off with a friend from their town of Guanajuato to cross the border into the U.S., hopeful to find work. Desperate to find out what happened to him—and to know whether or not he’s even alive—she embarks on an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous journey to discover the truth. At the same time, a young man named Miguel (David Illescas) has returned to Mexico after being deported from the U.S., and eventually his path converges with Magdalena’s. From this simple but urgent premise, director Fernanda Valadez has crafted a lyrical, suspenseful slow burn, equally constructed of moments of beauty and horror, and which leads to a startling, shattering conclusion. Winner of the Gotham Award for Best International Film and the Audience Award and Best Screenplay prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Reviews More Reviews
“Critic’s Pick! A sophisticated acknowledgment of the powerlessness that migrants face... enlivened and energized by striking, purposeful images.”
“A humanitarian lament by way of a slow-burn thriller… one of the best films to ever address this crisis.”
“Combines stunning cinematography, evocative sound design and hints of magical realism to create a visionary work of devastating power."
"A stunning Mexican border drama."
“A haunting and beautifully realized film.”
“On every level, this is impressively accomplished cinema.”
“A confident, accomplished and distinctive feature directorial debut.”
“An austere, gorgeously shot parable of chaos and loss in modern Mexico.”
“Valadez has crafted an instant classic, a quiet achievement that will echo thunderously for decades to come... Identifying Features is a masterpiece."
“Speaks volumes of the boundaries of the human heart and of the undeniable qualities of this director, who should be watched with interest.”
Press & Exhibitors
Below please find additional information and promotional materials for this film. Use the buttons on the left to request to book this film for theatrical or educational/community screenings.
For all press requests, please contact us at press@kinolorber.com.
Technical Info
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Color: Color
Press & Promotion:
playdates
Venue | City | State | Date |
---|---|---|---|
AFI Silver | Silver Spring | MD | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Alexander Valley Film Society | Cloverdale | CA | 1611550800January 25 - March 24, 2021 |
Amherst Cinema | Amherst | MA | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Arena Theater | Point Arena | CA | 1609131600December 28, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Art House Billings | Billings | MT | 1611810000January 28 - March 24, 2021 |
Athens Ciné | Athens | GA | 1608699600December 23, 2020 - February 16, 2021 |
Austin Film Society | Austin | TX | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Avalon Theatre | Washington | DC | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
BAM Rose Cinemas | Brooklyn | NY | 1607922000December 14, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) | Berkeley | CA | 1613451600February 16 - March 24, 2021 |
Bozeman Film Society | Bozeman | MT | 1611550800January 25 - March 24, 2021 |
Brattle Theatre | Cambridge | MA | 1608699600December 23, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Bryn Mawr Film Institute | Bryn Mawr | PA | 1611118800January 20 - March 11, 2021 |
Burns Court Cinemas | Sarasota | FL | 1609995600January 7 - March 24, 2021 |
Byrd Theatre | Richmond | VA | 1611118800January 20 - March 24, 2021 |
Cameo Cinema | St. Helena | CA | 1611896400January 29 - March 24, 2021 |
Carbon Arc Cinema | Halifax | NS | 1610946000January 18 - March 24, 2021 |
Chelsea Theater | Chapel Hill | NC | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Cinema Lamont | Oak Park | MI | 1610427600January 12 - March 24, 2021 |
Cinema Tropical | New York | NY | 1607922000December 14, 2020 - May 3, 2021 |
CinemaSavannah | Savannah | GA | 1609822800January 5 - February 18, 2021 |
Cinémonde | New York | NY | 1609995600January 7 - January 21, 2021 |
CineSpeak | Philadelphia | PA | 1611637200January 26 - March 24, 2021 |
Cleveland Cinematheque | Cleveland | OH | 1607922000December 14, 2020 - April 30, 2021 |
Colonial Theatre | Belfast | ME | 1611032400January 19 - March 24, 2021 |
Coral Gables Art Cinema | Coral Gables | FL | 1610427600January 12 - March 24, 2021 |
Crandell Theatre | Chatham | NY | 1607922000December 14, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Crystal Theatre | Carbondale | CO | 1614056400February 23 - March 24, 2021 |
Dairy Arts Center | Boulder | CO | 1611723600January 27 - March 24, 2021 |
Darkside Cinema | Corvallis | OR | 1610427600January 12 - March 24, 2021 |
Denver Film / Sie FilmCenter | Denver | CO | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Detroit Institute of Arts | Detroit | MI | 1608699600December 23, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Digital Gym Cinema | San Diego | CA | 1610946000January 18 - March 24, 2021 |
Downing Film Center | Newburgh | NY | 1609995600January 7 - March 24, 2021 |
Drexel Theatre | Columbus | OH | 1611205200January 21 - March 24, 2021 |
Film at Lincoln Center | New York | NY | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Gene Siskel Film Center | Chicago | IL | 1608181200December 17, 2020 - February 26, 2021 |
Grand Illusion Cinema | Seattle | WA | 1609131600December 28, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Guild Cinema | Albuquerque | NM | 1610168400January 9 - March 24, 2021 |
Historic Howell Theater | Howell | MI | 1610514000January 13 - March 24, 2021 |
Jane Pickens Theatre | Newport | RI | 1610514000January 13 - March 24, 2021 |
Kan-Kan Cinema | Indianapolis | IN | 1611118800January 20 - March 24, 2021 |
Laemmle Theatres | Los Angeles | CA | 1611118800January 20 - March 24, 2021 |
Lumiere Cinema | Los Angeles | CA | 1611723600January 27 - March 24, 2021 |
Midtown Cinema | Harrisburg | PA | 1611118800January 20 - March 24, 2021 |
Montclair Film Festival | Montclair | NJ | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
MSP Film Society | Minneapolis | MN | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | Houston | TX | 1608094800December 16, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Museum of the Moving Image | Astoria | NY | 1608267600December 18, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
New York Women in Film & Television | New York | NY | 1611118800January 20 - March 24, 2021 |
O Cinema | Miami Beach | FL | 1611550800January 25 - March 24, 2021 |
Onyx Theatre | Nevada City | CA | 1608699600December 23, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Oxnard Film Society | Oxnard | CA | 1609822800January 5 - March 24, 2021 |
Palm Springs Cultural Center | Palm Springs | CA | 1608699600December 23, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Park City Film | Park City | UT | 1610427600January 12 - March 24, 2021 |
Philadelphia Film Society | Philadelphia | PA | 1611118800January 20 - March 24, 2021 |
Pickford Film Center | Bellingham | WA | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center | Patchogue | NY | 1610427600January 12 - March 24, 2021 |
Plaza Theatre | Atlanta | GA | 1611032400January 19 - March 24, 2021 |
Portland Museum of Art | Portland | ME | 1607922000December 14, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Railroad Square Cinema | Waterville | ME | 1607922000December 14, 2020 - March 5, 2021 |
Red River Theatres | Concord | NH | 1609218000December 29, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Rehoboth Beach Film Society | Rehoboth Beach | DE | 1608699600December 23, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Rialto Cinemas Cerrito | El Cerrito | CA | 1608699600December 23, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Rialto Cinemas Elmwood | Berkeley | CA | 1608699600December 23, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol | Sebastopol | CA | 1608699600December 23, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Row House Cinema | Pittsburgh | PA | 1614142800February 24 - March 24, 2021 |
Roxie Theater | San Francisco | CA | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Sag Harbor Cinema | Sag Harbor | NY | 1610514000January 13 - March 24, 2021 |
Salt Lake Film Society | Salt Lake City | UT | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Savoy Theatre | Montpelier | VT | 1612155600February 1 - March 25, 2021 |
Smith Rafael Film Center | San Rafael | CA | 1611118800January 20 - March 24, 2021 |
SNF Parkway Theatre | Baltimore | MD | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
State Theatre | Modesto | CA | 1613106000February 12 - April 2, 2021 |
Sudbury Indie Cinema | Sudbury | ON | 1607922000December 14, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Suns Cinema | Washington | DC | 1610514000January 13 - March 24, 2021 |
Taking Over Presents | Brooklyn | NY | 1614229200February 25 - March 24, 2021 |
Tampa Theatre | Tampa | FL | 1609995600January 7 - February 26, 2021 |
Taos Center For The Arts | Taos | NM | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
The Frida Cinema | Santa Ana | CA | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
The Hirschfield International Film Series | Middlebury | VT | 1616990400March 29 - April 18, 2021 |
The Independent Picture House (Charlotte Film Society) | Charlotte | NC | 1609390800December 31, 2020 - March 19, 2021 |
The Little Theatre | Rochester | NY | 1615525200March 12 - April 30, 2021 |
The Loft Cinema | Tucson | AZ | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
The Nightlight Cinema | Akron | OH | 1608699600December 23, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
TIFF Lightbox | Toronto | ON | 1611291600January 22 - March 24, 2021 |
Time & Space Limited | Hudson | NY | 1611205200January 21 - March 24, 2021 |
Tin Pan Theater | Bend | OR | 1611291600January 22 - March 5, 2021 |
Tivoli at the Nelson-Atkins | Kansas City | MO | 1609390800December 31, 2020 - March 6, 2021 |
UW-Madison Cinematheque | Madison | WI | 1604552400November 5, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Vickers Theatre | Three Oaks | MI | 1607922000December 14, 2020 - March 24, 2021 |
Vogue Theatre | Manistee | MI | 1610341200January 11 - March 24, 2021 |
Waters Edge Cinema | Provincetown | MA | 1611205200January 21 - March 24, 2021 |
Winnipeg Cinematheque | Winnipeg | MB | 1611550800January 25 - March 24, 2021 |
Zinema 2 | Duluth | MN | 1609822800January 5 - March 24, 2021 |