ÈSÙ AND THE UNIVERSE
Documentary, 95 min
Shot in Nigeria, Brazil, Spain & Slovenia.
A Nigerian professor, who lives in between Brazil, travels the world to reclaim the true history of Èṣù and prove to the world that this orixá is not the Devil.
AWARDS & FESTIVALS:
25th Rio Film Festival, Audience Award for Best Documentary
45th São Paulo International Film Festival, Critics’ Award for Best Documentary
ABD Award, Best Documentary Editing
Ecofalante Environmental Film Festival, Audience Award
Bushwick Film Festival (October 2023), Honorable Mention
SVA Film & Media Festival, Best Film
LALIFF 2023 Latino International Film Festival
62nd FICCI (Cartagena de Indias International Film Festival)
OJU Roda SESX Black Cinema Showcase
Kinoarte Film Festival
MARKETS/LABS:
Points North Fellowship
"Only in NY" Industry Meetings at the DOC NYC.
Latino Media Market - NALIP Media Summit
WIP Latino - Festival de Cine Internacional de Guadalajara in LA. Awarded with the Marketing Movie Runner.
Industry Meetings at DocSP - International Documentary Meeting of Sao Paulo.
VI Chile Conecta Encuentro Internacional de Industria Documental
LA FLACA
Hybrid Film
A hybrid film about Arely Vazquez and the Santa Muerte
(TIME 20 min) (USA) 2019
Arely Vazquez's personal story as an immigrant and transgender woman is the starting point of the short movie "La Flaca", that attempts to show what the Santa Muerte (Holy Death) cult is about - a cult formed by those marginalized in our society. The movie blurs the line between documentary and fiction when bringing together real characters and events with a fictional plot, based on the day of the 9th Anniversary of the Santa Muerte. Arely gathers the devotees annually in a celebration through the night, idealized by her as a form of fulfilling her vows to the Skeleton Saint.
"La Flaca" is above all a documentary about the overcoming of prejudices and the breaking of tabus, that also questions social superficial morals. It is a movie about life, but it is also a movie about death - the death that is always just for she'll come to meet us all, sooner or later.
PÁA’TENEHU
Fiction, 10 min
Shot in the Yucatán Peninsula, in Mexico.
As a powerful storm sweeps through Southeast Mexico, a family takes refuge in their small meatshop. In the dead of night, their grandmother weaves an ancient tale of the Xtbay—a spirit born of grief and longing—to help them confront their fears and hold onto hope as their father is lost in the storm.
This short film emerged from a filmmaking lab in the Yucatán Peninsula, led by Pedro Costa. Participants developed and shot their projects on location, collaborating with local non-actors and drawing inspiration from the region. Blending fiction and reality, the film captures the resilience of family amidst the Yucatán’s raw beauty and cultural depth.
PLASTIC
FICTION. IN DEVELOPMENT.
80 min. | Brazil/USA
Natalia lives in São Paulo, Brazil.
Natalia has two jobs.
Natalia is a woman.
Natalia’s orisha is Exu.
Natalia builds mannequins.
Natalia has two names.
Natalia plays videogames.
Natalia's favorite color is red.
Natalia has a dream.
Natalia is not russian but she is a doll.
Natalia is somebody else's dream.
Natalia smokes two packs a day.
