The Málaga Film Festival, scheduled for March 1-10, has decided to cancel the participation of U.S.-born director Julio Hernandez Cordon's vampire drama 'The Day is Long and Dark' due to complaints regarding acts of gender violence. The festival released a statement on February 28, citing their commitment against violence towards women and in support of equality of rights as the reason for withdrawing the film.
Hernandez Cordon, along with his producer, Diana Bustamante, were informed of the decision through the media before receiving official communication from the festival. Bustamante expressed disappointment in the festival's unilateral labeling of Hernandez Cordon as a perpetrator without proper investigation or dialogue.
It is important to note that there are no criminal complaints against Julio, and all allegations are anonymous. Hernandez Cordon has taken responsibility for his actions, expressed remorse, and has been working to rectify his past behaviors.
The accusations against Hernandez Cordon first surfaced publicly in May 2022, with four women detailing instances of abuse. Despite attending a course on male violence for seven months, the impact on his reputation has affected his ability to provide work for over a hundred people.
'The Day is Long and Dark' was set to premiere at Málaga's ZoneZine Official Competition section, but the film's withdrawal has led to the cancellation of flights for two actors and the DP. The film revolves around a young teen vampire struggling to control her instincts, with her father trying to help her navigate her fears.
Hernandez Cordon, known for his previous works such as 'Cómprame un revolver' and 'Te prometo anarquía,' expressed his disappointment at the situation and revealed that he did not intend to send his film to Málaga due to personal reasons.
Despite the setback, a festival in Latin America has shown interest in screening the film, which was shot in Mexico and features a cast including Carla Nieto, Luis Alberti, Mila Mijangos, and Eli Acosta.
