Black Shine Premieres in Morelia, Revisiting a Mexican Mine Disaster
A short documentary called Black Shine (El brillo negro) has premiered at the 24th Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia, the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico. The film is in competition for the festival's top prize among short films, which means it is one of the entries judged for the award.
Santiago Maza directed the film, wrote the script and is credited as its producer. The festival's catalogue lists him as born in Mexico City in 1985. Morelia Film Festival catalogue
The film is set in Coahuila, the coal-mining region of northern Mexico. It goes back to the 2006 explosion at the Pasta de Conchos mine, which buried 65 miners. Variety
It follows two people living with that loss. El Güero is a former miner who recovered his brother's remains. Elvira is still waiting for her husband. Variety
The festival describes the film as a portrait of patience as resistance, and of those above ground refusing to forget those still trapped below. Morelia Film Festival
The production was small. According to Variety, the crew shot the film in April over four days with four people in total. The running time is 19 minutes and 58 seconds. The festival catalogue lists it as a 2026 colour documentary, and credits Odei Zabaleta with photography.
Vogue México has also named El brillo negro among the films screening at this year's festival. Vogue México
The festival's 24th edition includes 96 films in competition. Tickets go on online presale and at box offices two days before each screening, starting at 10:00. Morelia Film Festival
For a film about a disaster that still has people waiting for answers, the story is plain. A short documentary, made quickly and with a small team, now has a place in front of a festival audience.
