This was followed by last Tuesday´s announcement that two Mexicans are nominated for this year´s Oscars for best director of photography for a motion picture.

Perhaps the most prestigious achievement was made by Juan Carlos Rulfo, son of Juan Rulfo, the famous author, when he won the Jury Prize in the World Cinema Competition documentary section for his film "En el hoyo" ("In the Pit," U.S. title).

Rulfo´s film focuses on the construction of the second level of Mexico City´s periférico beltway and the lives of the workers who built it.

According to local legend, every time the workers complete one section, the devil claimed a soul in exchange to keep the structure in tact.

This film tells the stories of the laborers, their lives, dreams and struggle for survival, as they built the massive raised highway.

Mexican director Tin Dirdamal also won recognition for his documentary "De nadie" - which means for no one or nobody´s in Spanish - for which he won the Audience Prize for Best Foreign Documentary.

"De nadie" is an exposé of the cruelty, injustice and violence suffered by Central American immigrants who cross Mexico to reach the United States.

The full-length feature centers on the story of María, a Salvadoran woman who leaves her husband and children behind in search of a better life in the United States only to have her dreams put on hold after she is attacked by criminals on Mexican soil.

The Sundance Film Festival is considered one of the most important venues in the world for independent films looking for distribution and is known for its role in the promotion of diversity and aesthetic innovation in cinema.

THE OSCARS

Another of the world´s major film awards, and the most important in the United States, are the Academy Awards - otherwise known as the Oscars. This year in the Best Achievement in Cinematography section two Mexicans were nominated: Rodrigo Prieto for "Brokeback Mountain" and Emmanuel Lubezki for his work in "The New World."

After hearing he had been nominated Tuesday, Prieto said he felt great but was surprised despite the fact that "Brokeback Mountain" led the pack in nominations with eight, including for Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Achievement in Directing for Ang Lee.

Though shot in Canada, the film is set in the rolling hills of Wyoming. The script is based on the short story of the same name by E. Annie Proulx and follows the lives and heartaches of two cowboys and their tale of forbidden love.

Prieto acknowledged that the competition for the award between himself and the other four nominees was "extremely tough," but he said that he felt proud to be sharing the race with a fellow Mexican.

"It´s an exciting day, we have two Mexican cinematographers nominated," said Prieto.

Lubezki received his nomination for working in Terrance Malick´s epic portrayal of John Smith´s arrival from England and foundation of the Jamestown colony in what is now the United States.

Malick´s are films known for their heavy, contemplative visual style for which "The New World" has been described as no exception.

Lubezki´s work earned him the nomination, the only one received for "The New World." In reviews, his cinematography is often credited as one of the strongest points to the film.

In a somewhat critical piece Boston Globe reviewer said, "Emmanuel Lubezki´s cinematography is almost painfully lovely," and Christopher Kelly of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said, "There are still reasons to see ´The New World,´ chief among them Emmanuel Lubezki´s ravishing, shot-entirely-in-natural-light photography."

The other films being nominated in the category include: "Batman Begins," "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "Memoirs of a Geisha."

The awards ceremony will be held on March 5 in the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles.