Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - If the sun, sea and sand are not enough for you, another reason to be in Puerto Vallarta this month is the return of the Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival. This year marks the 14th edition of the festival, which starts today and runs through April 4, 2014.

Supported by the family of the late John Huston, the Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival brings movie stars, producers, film makers, directors and fans from all over the world to Puerto Vallarta for a week of motion picture screenings, conferences, art expos and a whole lot more.

One of the celebrated film makers participating in this year's film fest is Irish film director Jim Sheridan, who's 1993 film, In the Name of the Father will kick off the Film Fest on Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 pm in the CUC's Juan Luis Cifuentes Lemus auditorium.

After the screening, the CUC invites everyone to attend the second lecture of the Huston Film and Literature Chair, entitled a "Dialogue with Jim Sheridan" and presented by Jim himself, along with Irish classical pianist Maurice Roycroft, at 6:00 pm.

Week-long festivities include the screening of a selection of shorts from Ireland's Schull Film Festival, along with documentaries, photo exhibitions, and other artistic activities at the University of Guadalajara Centro Universitario de la Costa, Los Arcos del Malecón, Plaza Lazaro Cardenas, Jardin El Edén, El Patio de mi Casa, and Mantamar Beach Club.

The issue of diversity will also be demonstrated this year, since segments of the festival that have historically created the most impact are the films competing for the Maguey Award, which spotlights international artists who serve as spokes persons in the world of sexual diversity. A total of 18 films from 14 countries make up the official selection competing for the Maguey 03 Award, which is proof positive of the award's prestige and importance in the film industry on an international level.

As part of the Maguey presentations here in Vallarta, which includes tributes, photo exhibitions, lectures, and sexual diversity-themed films, Bruce LaBruce, who has achieved international recognition with his controversial artistic work, will present his photographic exhibition "Obscenity," a variety of images that attempts to redefine the nature of the fetish and taboo. LaBruce will also discuss "The Violation of the Established" with Berlin Porn Film Festival Director, Jürgen Brüning; and present screenings of his films, Gerontophilia and Pierrot Lunaire.

Another celebrity is Wieland Speck, who won a Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work on behalf of cinematic sexual diversity. He is also the founder of the Teddy Award, which has been a key part of the Berlin International Film Festival since 1992.

The Film Fest will close with a screening of this year's Maguey Award winning film at the Mantamar Beach Club on the South side of Puerto Vallarta on April 4th.

For more information, visit udg.mx. A detailed schedule of all the films to be screened during the 14th Puerto Vallarta International Film Festival can be found at the bottom of THIS PAGE of the urbeat.com website.