Damián López as himself
"Don't cry"
‘Barrio Bravo’ Tepito, is the most dangerous area of Mexico City. It is riddled with black marketeers, and overrun with gang activity, robbery and pickpocketing thieves. Young Damián however, dreams of becoming a boxing champion, supported by his enthusiastic father who doubtless, hopes he will be able to make something of himself and rise above the area into which he was born.
The lad is nervous and looks astonishingly vulnerable, but he has trained hard at the local gymnasium (Bravo Tepito) and is looking forward to his third ever bout. He is determined to do well, representing the Reds. Looking bewildered, he is showered with a ton of reminders as he takes his place in the red corner. His opponent Jesús “Chucho” Esquivel watches him from the Blue corner.
“Keep your mouth closed or you’re in danger of dislocating your jaw…”
Shot in a tight, almost intimate, close ups, the two lads confront each other with youthful determination. They seem too young to fight. We feel their fear and their sweat as they try to summon the strength to respond to their coach’s constant calls. They have to dig deep to continue and not falter:
“Close your mouth… are you feeling dizzy?”
Saved by the bell many a time, Damián has a bloody mouth, which constant wiping with a damp cloth does not remedy. Is this in the ring or is this out in the streets of Tepito? As the contest ends and the boys run free onto the wet rainy streets, you can feel that all this fighting is at least giving them all some hope.
Federico Luis Tachella, known as Federico Luis, wrote and directed the short which premiered in Cannes 2026. He was born in Buenos Aires and studied Social Communication Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires. His first film ‘Vidrios’ (Glass) was his school thesis that premiered at the Buenos Aires International independent Film Festival. He has won awards with his 2023 short documentary ‘At that very Moment, ‘La Siesta-2019’’ and his 2024 feature ‘Simon of the Mountain’ which won the 2024 Critic’s Week Grand Prize. He is currently working on a new movie ‘The Dog Trainer’.
The director Federico Luis Tachella
This short is intense and up close, which adds to the drama and even the horror, of such a young child fighting, dripping blood, while trying so hard to grow up quickly. Federico Luis has captured the conflicting emotions of fear and determination of a boy with his whole life before him as he strives to face his demons.
PARA LOS CONTRINCANTES (2026- FOR THE OPPONENTS)
Writer/director Federico Luis / Producers: Fernando Bascuñán/ Augusto Matte/ Fernanda de la Peza/ Elena Fortes / Co-producers Sylvie Pialat and Alejandro Arenas / DOP: Narcos Hastrup/ Editor: Andrés Medina / Sound designer: Martín García Glaya / Composer: Satoshi & Makoto-
Cast: Damián López as himself, with Jesús Esquivel, Ian Haziel Castillo, Jair Monroy. Isaac Rivas Cruz, Wil Pérez, Hilles Aniorte Tomassian, Rubén Machorro Álvarez, Anne Geraldine Hinostroza Méndez and Martha María López Ramos.
