From Mexico, Urzula Barba Hopfner’s directorial debut, Corina, has the North American Premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film & Television Festival Global category. Hopfner co – wrote the script with Samuel Sosa. Corina premiered to critical acclaim at the Guadalajara Film Festival. It won the Best Film Award in the Made in Jalisco competition, and later at the Guanajuato Film Festival, it received the Press Award.
The film stars Naian González Norvind (New Order) as Corina where she works as a style corrector for a newspaper in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the publishing division. She is assigned to a remote office/desk away from all the other staff in the building. She does not mind, as this works for her lifestyle of being alone, living with a relative who has agoraphobia. Corina has learned to live a quiet life and only leaves home to work, buy her favorite beverage on the way there and limited shopping – all on the same block. If I am not mistaken, she only uses the sidewalk and never crosses any streets. She is in her late 20s.
Fernanda owns the store where she shops and introduces her to her arrived cousin Carlos (Cristo Fernández, Ted Lasso, Las Tres Sisters) who is now working at the shop. Carlos soon learns Corina’s schedule and beverage preference, kindly attending to her needs as does Fernanda.
Corina receives limited assignments from her boss Lili, but on her own at home, she does write stories and then stores them away, never to be seen. While at work, Corina overhears of a crisis regarding the best-selling author of a book series and how it could impact business. Corina has a sudden burst of creativity as to how to resolve the issues but does so without anyone’s authorization. The journey that Corina decides to pursue is quite a leap outside her comfort zone – an adventure she needs Carlos to help her with, given her limited exposure to the world beyond her neighborhood.
Naian González Norvind gives a terrific performance with her limited speaking due to her shyness but speaks volumes with her eyes. It is great to see her in her original lifestyle and transform when she saw a need to do so. Cristo Fernandez is fabulous in his role, kind and gentlemanly as the one who becomes her “hero” of sorts, helping make her journey be successful. All the supporting cast are excellent as well, making this a joyful and entertaining time at the cinema.
Cinematography by Gerardo Guerra (Dos Estaciones), production design by Lou Perez Sandi, with original music by Gus Reyes and Andres Sanchez.
SXSW Screenings (after March 8th):
Monday, March 10, 6:15pm at the Violet Crown Cinema 2 and Cinema 4
Thursday, March 13, 3:1:5pm at the Alamo Lamar 2 and the Alamo Lamar 7
Source: SXSW
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