Düsseldorf-based Patra Spanou Film has secured global sales rights to The Newcomers (Los nuevos), the latest feature from Mexican filmmaker Rodrigo Plá. The acquisition follows the film’s world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival, where it debuted as part of the festival’s newly launched competitive section for children’s cinema.
Expanding the Reach of Children’s Cinema
Patra Spanou acquired the rights to the project shortly after its screening at Locarno. According to Spanou, the film serves as an accessible entry point for younger audiences to engage with complex global issues. “With his latest film, he manages to touch difficult subjects like forced displacement, migration and environmental exploitation in an accessible way for children by making a film about friendship and adventure to entertain the whole family,” Spanou told Variety.
The film, produced by Buenaventura Cine and Mr. Miyagi Films, marks a departure for Plá, who is known for more adult-oriented social thrillers like 2007’s The Zone. Plá noted that shifting his focus to a younger demographic required new narrative techniques. “It’s a film that, through adventure, tries to bring complex issues like migration or the importance of protecting water from the greed of mining closer to children,” Plá explained to Variety.
Narrative Shifts and Subjective Storytelling
The Newcomers is adapted from the book They Came with the Wind (Llegaron con el viento) by screenwriter Laura Santullo, who is Plá’s frequent collaborator and spouse. The narrative centers on a group of tweens, led by a character named Mateo, who investigate the pollution poisoning the rivers in their village following the arrival of refugees.
Plá highlighted a specific stylistic choice in the film: the use of a child’s perspective as the primary lens. “This is the first time we’ve given voice to a child’s subjectivity,” Plá said. “Mateo is both the protagonist and the narrator. What happens on screen is the memory of a special year… a subjective reconstruction of events, a tale.” To achieve this, the character of Mateo occasionally breaks the fourth wall to guide the audience through the adventure.
Did you know?
The 79th Locarno Film Festival, which ran from August 5–15, introduced a competitive section for children’s films this year. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the program aims to explore the “full, free range of cinematic possibilities” for young viewers, featuring seven international premieres judged by a youth jury aged 11 to 15.
Industry Trends in Family-Friendly Social Commentary
Programmer Daniela Persico stated that the festival’s goal was to create a program that does not “shy away from the complexities of the contemporary world,” covering topics such as the environment and social identity.
For Plá and Santullo, this project is part of a diverse development slate. The pair is currently working on three additional projects: a musical, a dystopian drama, and a black-comedy thriller. While the genres vary, Plá noted that his body of work remains anchored in recurring themes. “They all have some recurring concerns, like the tension between the public and the private or an interest in social processes, though always told from an intimate place,” he said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Newcomers about?
The film follows three children who discover that the rivers in their village are being poisoned. The story is narrated by the lead character, Mateo, and explores themes of migration, environmental protection, and friendship.
Who produced The Newcomers?
The film is a production of Buenaventura Cine in co-production with Mr. Miyagi Films. Producers include Gabriela Maldonado, Rodrigo Plá, Laura Santullo, Ángeles Hernández, and David Matamoros.
Where did the film premiere?
The Newcomers had its world premiere at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, which took place in August.
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