Guadalajara Construye, a prominent industry centerpiece at Latin America’s largest film festival, is set to feature a diverse and compelling slate of films, highlighting emerging and established talents from across the region. Among the highly anticipated titles, “Matarifes,” picked up for worldwide sales by Germany’s Picture Tree, stands out as a significant entry, alongside new works from renowned directors like Gabriel Mariño and promising debuts such as “Poor Daniel.”

Uruguayan brothers Rafael and Bernardo Antonaccio present “Matarifes” as their follow-up to the acclaimed thriller “In the Quarry,” a slow-boil but explosive debut that garnered worldwide sales and established them as talents to watch. “Matarifes” is a multilateral co-production involving Uruguay, Spain, and Argentina, a promising sign for Latin American cinema. Set against the unique backdrop of the 1970s meat ban in Uruguay, the film galvanizes social-issue observance with a powerful thriller drive. The plot centers on Galician immigrant José and his daughter Rosita, who establish a clandestine slaughterhouse. As their operation expands within the city's black market, their ambitions collide with corrupt authorities, rival butchers, and a volatile political landscape, ultimately pushing the family towards perilous alliances and violent repercussions. The Antonaccios describe “Matarifes” as an exploration of how the drive for survival can compel individuals to transgress boundaries, and how, in this process, ambition can ultimately become self-devouring.

Gabriel Mariño, known for his road movie “A Secret World” (selected for Berlin) and the low-fi fantasy romance “Yesterday Wonder I Was” (a double Morelia winner), makes a return to filmmaking with “The Night Is About to Come.” This Mexican production, starring famed film director Claudia Sainte-Luce (“The Amazing Catfish”), delves into the story of Lucero, a lonely call-center worker whose attendance at a high-school reunion reopens old wounds. In an impulsive act of defiance, Lucero stages her own death, only to be forced to confront an inescapable truth about herself when a classmate's hidden confession comes to light. Mariño characterizes the film as a “raw character study” that embraces Lucero's contradictions without attempting to resolve them, using ambiguity as a lens for understanding rather than defining her, in an attempt to foster empathy.

Another buzz title is “Poor Daniel,” the debut feature from respected Argentine actor and playwright Santiago Gobernori. Co-produced by Spain/Argentina-based Blurr Stories (known for Iván Fund’s Berlin Festival Jury Prize winner “The Message”) and Argentina’s Obol Film Club, this film adapts Gobernori's own stage play. It explores how the routine existence of Daniel and Elizabeth is shattered by the arrival of Elizabeth’s brother, recently released from a psychiatric clinic, leading to a ménage that is both “unexpected as tender.” Gobernori describes the film as an attempt to merge his artistic quest for acting poetics with the language of cinema.

Among other notable selections is “I Have to Leave” from Mexico, directed by Hugo Arrevillaga Serrano, a first-time film director hailing from the theater. Produced by Animal de Luz, headed by Inna Payán (a key producer on the Cannes Un Certain Regard winner “La Jaula de Oro”), and Cine Acrílico, the film follows a nurse adrift who discovers an unlikely guide to navigate grief and memory. Shot across Mexico City with a low-budget, emerging crew, producer Vicente Garibay Lijanova notes that the film “embraces both risk and intimacy,” presenting an honest portrayal of healing where prolonged attachment deepens wounds, and learning to loosen one's grip becomes the path forward.

Brazil contributes “Swimming in the Blue,” directed by Sofia Federico. This project has already garnered significant attention, winning two awards at Frapa 2020 during its development phase, including a Projeto Paradiso Award for feature screenplay. Federico emphasizes her desire to showcase the strength of human relationships, how they are forged, and how they become integral to our lives, highlighting the profound presence of solidarity, affection, and mutual care, especially among women, within the narrative.

Finally, “Where Dreams Sleep” from Peru, directed by Daniel Riglos, is a feature-length adaptation of his earlier short film, marking a decade-long journey from concept to realization. Produced by Bonzo Films, Animalita, and Frontera Cine, the film delves into the aftermath of a car accident that leaves Santiago in a coma. Through memory and dreams, he connects with Alina, the love of his life, who has passed away. Santiago faces the agonizing decision of whether to cling to his beloved and disappear himself, or to let her go and survive. Riglos describes it as a personal exploration of memory and desire, grounded in a story that illustrates how the mind navigates reality, fantasy, imagination, and dreams.

The Guadalajara Construye lineup truly reflects the vibrant and diverse storytelling landscape of Latin American cinema, offering a compelling array of narratives driven by both established and emerging talents.