Estela is a 12 year old girl who has just fallen crazy in love with a young police cadet who wants to run away with her and get married. Trying to achieve this dream, her family will have to live the violence that is devastating the region.
- Cannes Film Festival – Competition – Best Director
- San Sebastián International Film Festival – Official Selection
- Cameraimage – Main Competition – Silver Frog
- Chicago International Film Festival – Official Selection
- Havana Film Festival – Official Selection – Grand Coral – First Prize, Casa de las Américas Award, Cuban Critics Award
- Lima Latin American Film Festival – Elcine First Prize for Best Film
- Montréal Festival of New Cinema – Official Selection – Louvre d’Or
- Munich Film Festival – Official Selection – ARRI/OSRAM Award for Best International Film
- Stockholm Film Festival – Official Selection – Aluminium Horse for Best Cinematography
- Oslo Films from the South Festival – Official Selection – Films from the South Award for Best Film
- Ariel Awards – Silver Ariel for Best Direction (14 nominations)
- Palm Springs International Film Festival – Official Selection – Cinelatino Award
- Premios Fénix – Best Director, Best Screenplay
- San Diego Film Critics Society Awards – SDFCS Award for Best Foreign Language Film
- The Platino Awards for Iberoamerican Cinema – Platino Award for Best Film
Self-taught filmmaker from the city of Guanajuato, Mexico, he began to work in cinema at the age of 15. After making two short films, he wrote and directed his first film, "Sangre" shot in his city and premiered at Un Certain Regard Official Selection at Cannes 2005, where he was awarded with the FIPRESCI Prize from the International Critics. "Los Bastardos" was his second feature film and also premiered at Un Certain Regard Official Selection at Cannes 2008. "Heli" is his third feature film that premiered at the Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
- Lost in the Night – 2023
- La Región Salvaje – 2016
- Heli – 2013
- Revoluciones – 2010 – Short film
- Los Bastardos – 2008
- Sangre – 2005
- Amarrados – 2002 – Short film
Armando Espitia
Andrea Vergara
Linda Gonzales
Juan Eduardo Palacio
Assistant director: Alexandre de Graaf, Inti Aldasoro
Screenwriter: Amat Escalante, Gabriel Reyes
DOP: Lorenzo Hagerman
Editor: Natalia Lopez
Costume and Production Design: Daniela Schneider
Make up: Jorge Fuentes
Sound: Catriel Vildosola
Sound Design: Sergio Diaz
Music: Lasse Marhaug
Production: Mantarraya, Tres Tunas
Coproduction: Lemming Film, Le Pacte, Foprocine, Ticoman, IKE Asistencia
World Sales: Luxbox
