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<img src="https://cinemamix360.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/240426_corto-de-la-udeg-por-primera-vez-en-competencia-en-el-festival-de-cannes_ge-2.jpg" alt="UdeG short film in competition at the Cannes Film Festival for the first time”>


“Elevation”, by Gabriel Esdras, was the selected project from among more than 2,200 submitted by schools from around the world
As a result of his graduation project, Gabriel Esdras, a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Audiovisual Arts program at theUniversity Center for Art, Architecture and Design (CUAAD)of the University of Guadalajara (UdeG), was selected for the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which will be held from May 14 to 25.
This is his short fiction film,Elevation,which is competing in the La Cinef category, along with 18 other short films. “I’m very excited; it was a long and arduous process. (…) It’s exciting because it’s my university thesis, the culmination of my degree, a recap of all these years of preparation, and it’s awesome to be at the best festival in the world—it’s the best place to be,” shared Gabriel, who added that it’s like closing his time at the Department of Image and Sound (DIS) with a flourish, but one filled with diamonds.
The short film is a portrait of Guadalajara. It tells the story of two boys who live in a city occupied by soldiers; they seem to be losing hope, but a movement emerges in the streets, a revolution sparked by punk music concerts.
The filming, which received support from the Grodman grant for graduation, considered locations in downtown Guadalajara: Morelos Park, Plaza Tapatía, two concert venues and various streets.
Gabriel highlighted the support of the University of Guadalajara team in the production. From the DIS (Disciplinary Department of Design): Andrea Díaz, as assistant director; in production, Germán Torres and Rodrigo G. Valdivia; as sound engineer, Sebastián Santana; in addition, talents from other CUAAD (University Center for Arts and Design) degree programs: Ruth Ramos and Jaime Bernache, as actors in the short film. Marcela Lizbeth, a graduate of the University Center for Social Sciences and Humanities, who also acts inElevation.
Regarding the selection of this work, the Head of DIS, José Ramón Miquelajáuregui Villegas, commented that the achievement is even greater given the democratization of production processes with new technologies and mobile devices; he added that it is the first time that the UdeG and DIS are in a competitive section at this film festival in France.
Gabriel, for his part, thanked the Grodman Legacy for its support of this work; Karla Uribe, from DIS and Yordi Capó, professor at CUAAD, who was also the student’s thesis advisor.
Attentively
“Think and Work”
“30 Years of Autonomy of the University of Guadalajara and its Network Organization”
Guadalajara, Jalisco, April 26, 2024
Text: Andrea Martínez Parrilla | CUAAD
Photography: Gabriel Esdras
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