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Actor Fernando Rebeil brings film made with young inmates to screen
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Actor Fernando Rebeil brings film made with young inmates to screen

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Actor Fernando Rebeil directed a short film titled "Parió la cochi" with young inmates at a juvenile detention center in Hermosillo, Sonora.
  • The 15-minute film, shot entirely within the ITAMA facility, depicts the arrival of a new young person facing threats from other inmates.
  • All participants in the film have since been released from the detention center and will be able to attend a special screening.

Actor Fernando Rebeil has brought a story created by young detainees to the screen with his short film "Parió la cochi." The film, which is currently competing at the Guanajuato film festival, was shot entirely within the facilities of the Institute for the Treatment of Application of Measures for Adolescents (ITAMA) in Hermosillo, Sonora.

I had been giving a workshop there for a long time and they were my students, so one day they asked me if I would film a play for them. When I saw the play, I thought it would be better to use that to make a short film because my workshop was a film club, and this way they could see how a movie was made.

— Fernando RebeilExplaining his inspiration for the film and how he involved the young detainees.

The 15-minute film centers on the arrival of a new young detainee who finds himself threatened by the occupants of a cell. Rebeil, who previously led a film club workshop at the center, was inspired by the young people's request to film a play. He adapted an existing work by instructor Gilberto Landeros Santini, using his own savings and support from others to bring the project to life.

"We started rehearsing for a long period, just them and me, and they were evolving richly, enjoying it more and more," Rebeil said. "The professor spoke with the authorities, they gave us authorization, they gave us the space, they allowed me to film inside their cell, they saw the first cut and were satisfied and happy."

We started rehearsing for a long period, just them and me, and they were evolving richly, enjoying it more and more. The professor spoke with the authorities, they gave us authorization, they gave us the space, they allowed me to film inside their cell, they saw the first cut and were satisfied and happy.

— Fernando RebeilDescribing the process of filming within the detention center and the positive reception from authorities.

All individuals who participated in the short film have since been released. They will be able to attend a special screening planned for next month in Hermosillo with their families and friends. Rebeil, who was interested in filmmaking before acting, previously directed the short film "El pulso de la tierra" in 2018. He is now working on financing a feature film.

I wanted it from the beginning of my career, since I was a kid, but very soon there were some turns that made me start acting, studying acting, and eventually I became a professional. Now this is my second short film, and I have a feature film project that I wrote and am now in the process of financing and being able to film next year.

— Fernando RebeilDiscussing his long-standing interest in directing and his future film projects.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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