Mexican production company Madrefoca Cine has joined the creative team behind Giorgio Giampà’s debut feature film “Isabel Hernández,” a co-production between Italy and Mexico. The project will be developed alongside producers from Zoe Films, LaDoc, and Fiasco, with Madrefoca’s Alejandro Saevich taking a key role in bringing the film to completion.
“Isabel Hernández” tells the story of a young agronomist working in Guatemala who unexpectedly discovers her absent father’s identity through a documentary about Latin American migrants. When two recently deported men—one who was raised by her father and another former soldier—provide conflicting information about his past, she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth. The narrative explores themes of identity and loss within the context of Guatemala’s civil war and immigration. Giampà developed the screenplay with Melissa Nocetti following seven years of research in Guatemala, during which he collaborated with indigenous communities and genocide survivors.
The project has earned a spot among 15 titles chosen for the 2026 Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum at San Sebastián Film Festival, taking place September 21-23. Production is scheduled to begin in autumn 2027, with Giampà planning to cast primarily non-professional actors whose personal experiences align with the narrative. This selection reflects growing momentum for Zoe Films, which currently has other titles in festival competition circuits across Europe.
Originally reported by Variety →
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