Vanilla
It is the end of the 1980s in Mexico. Roberta, an eight-year-old girl witnesses her family of seven women struggling to save their home, before it is auctioned off for debts. This painful experience will change the little girl’s perspective on herself and the world around her for ever. The film ‘Vanilla’ offers an intimate and highly emotional portrayal of adolescence, the power of women, and family bonds. Set against the background of social and economical tensions, the film depicts the everyday struggle for survival, while at the same time weaving a universal story about identity and solidarity. This full-length début from film director Mayra Hermosillo, who gained recognition for her role in the TV series ‘Narcos: Mexico,’ was made possible thanks to the contribution of independent filmmakers and the cooperation of artists from various corners of Mexico. The film was shot on various locations in Mexico, for example in the cities of Mexico, Torreón, or Mazatlán.
- Directed by: Mayra Hermosillo
- Screenplay: Mayra Hermosillo
- Photography: Jessica Villamil
- Editing: Sonia Sánchez Carrasco
- Music: Yamil Misael Rezc Gómez
- Production Design: Salvador Parra
- Sound Engineering: Eder Oswaldo
- Cast: Aurora Dávila, Fernanda Baca, Rosy Rojas, María Castellá, Natalia Plascencia, Paloma Petra, Lola Ochoa
- Producers: Stacy Perskie, Karla Luna Cantú, Andrea Porras Madero, Paloma Petra
- Production: Mexico
An actress, screenwriter, and film director born in Torreón, Mexico. She studied acting in Mexico, and worked as one of the organisers of the Festival Internacional Cervantino (FIC). She was cast in films directed by such film directors as Alejandra Márquez Abella, Amat Escalante, or Luis Estrada, to name a few. She gained international recognition, thanks to her role in the TV series ‘Narcos: Mexico.’ In 2018, she wrote the script for and directed the short film ‘En la piel de Lucia.’ The film was screened at numerous international film festivals. Her sophomore short film ‘Me quedo aqui’ was made with the support of the Programme for the Promotion of Mexican Cinema (FOCINE). The script written for the film ‘Vanilla’ was developed with the support of the National Fund for Culture and the Arts (FONCA), while the production of the whole project was also supported by the FOCINE Programme. The film won special mentions in the work in progress section of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), GuadaLAjara Film Festival (GLAFF), and the Ventana Sur film market.
