GuadaLAjara Film Festival: Manuel García-Rulfo Set For Honorary Award

EXCLUSIVE: Mexican actor Manuel García-Rulfo will receive the GuadaLAjara Film Festival’s honorary Árbol de la Vida Award.

García-Rulfo will be handed the award at the festival’s Opening Night Gala on November 5 at the United Theater in Los Angeles.

Born in Guadalajara, García-Rulfo is best known for his breakout performances in The Magnificent Seven and Cake. He later starred in A Man Called Otto, alongside Tom Hanks, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer series. His other credits include Bless Me, Ultima (2013), Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Widows (2018), 6 Underground (2019), and Pedro Páramo (2024).

The Árbol de la Vida Award is one of the GuadaLAjara Film Festival’s honorary awards. The award is set to pay tribute to outstanding individuals who have made a lasting impact in film, entertainment, and culture. It is named after the traditional Mexican Tree of Life. Previous recipients include Yalitza Aparicio, Xolo Maridueña, and Nava Mau.

“The Árbol de la Vida Award celebrates artists whose vision and presence bridge cultures and generations,” Festival Director Ximena Urrutia said in a statement.

“Manuel García-Rulfo embodies that spirit completely. From Guadalajara to the global stage, he has brought extraordinary depth, authenticity, and humanity to every role. It is a true honor to recognize his remarkable body of work as we open GLAFF’s sixteenth anniversary.”