North American Premiere of CORINA
at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival, March 7-15
Corina, the auspicious and quirky debut feature by Mexican writer-director Urzula Barba Hopfner, will have its North American premiere in the Global section at the 2025 edition of the SXSW Film Festival, taking place March 7–15 in Austin, Texas. Blending offbeat, deadpan humor with heartfelt emotion, Corina paints a vivid portrait of personal growth and the courage to step beyond the familiar.
Set in the director's hometown of Guadalajara, the film tells the story of Corina, a young woman who, for the past 20 years, has rarely left her house except to work at a local publishing house. When she makes a grave mistake in the final installment of the company's most famous book saga, her world is thrown into turmoil. To save her job—and the future of the publishing house—she must confront her deepest fears and, with the help of Carlos, embark on a daring journey to track down a mysterious writer whose words hold the key to redemption.
Starring the captivating Naian González Norvind (New Order) in the title role and Cristo Fernández (Ted Lasso) in a supporting role, Corina premiered to critical acclaim at the Guadalajara Film Festival, where it won the Best Film Award in the Made in Jalisco competition, and later at the Guanajuato Film Festival, where it received the Press Award. Its international premiere in the First Feature Competition at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival last November set the stage for its eagerly awaited North American debut at SXSW.
With a carefully crafted screenplay, impeccable cinematography by Gerardo Guerra (Dos Estaciones), and intricate production design that brings its whimsical universe to life, Corina is an uplifting and endearing fable reminiscent of Amélie. It challenges viewers to embrace the unknown and find beauty in life’s unexpected detours, leaving an indelible mark on international audiences.
