1920, on the border between Mexico and Belize. Deep in the Mayan jungle, a lawless territory where myths abound, a group of Mexican gum workers cross paths with Agnes, a mysterious young Belizean woman. Her presence incites tension among the men, arousing their fantasies and desires. Filled with new vigor, they face their destiny, without knowing that they have woken up Xtabay, a legendary being that lurks in the heart of the jungle.
Yulene Olaizola is one of the most prolific female directors from Latin America in this century. Her debut film, the documentary Shakespeare And Victor Hugo's Intimacies received more than 30 awards at the International film circuit, such as San Sebastián, IDFA, Buenos Aires, Miami y Transilvania. The film also won the Mexican Academy award "Ariel" for Best First Film. With the support of the Tribeca Film Institute, she presented her second feature Artificial Paradises , which was premiered at the Rotterdam Film Festival and was awarded for Best Cinematography at the Tribeca Film Festival. Her third feature film Fogo , a beautiful, bucolic piece about the end of the world and the belonging of the human being to their land. It was premiered at the Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.
Malacosa Cine, Varios Lobos
Manny Films, Zoología Fantástica
Barraca Producciones, Contravía Films
Indira Andrewin, Gilberto Barraraza
Mariano Tun Xool, Lázaro Gabino Rodríguez, Eligio Meléndez
Screenplay: Yulene Olaizola, Rubén Imaz
Producers: Pablo Zimbrón Alva, Rubén Imaz, Yulene Olaizola
Cinematography: Sofía Oggioni
Production Design: Luis Luino
Editors: Rubén Imaz, Yulene Olaizola, Israel Cárdenas, Pablo Chea
Sound Design: José Miguel Enríquez Rivaud
Music: Alejandro Otaola
Costume Design: Samuel Conde
Makeup: Gerardo Muñoz
Postproduction: Javier Velázquez Dorantes
VFX: Gustavo Bellon, Javier Velázquez Dorantes, Benoit Mannequin
Venice Internatioanl Film Festival
Orizzonti
New York Film Festival
San Sebastian International Film Festival
Mar del Plata Film Festival
FIPRESCI Prize