Berlin Golden Bear Winner Lila Avilés Completes Production on “Cábula”
The Mexican director who earned the Golden Bear for her debut feature Totém has announced the completion of principal photography on her next film, “Cábula.” A still from the set was released exclusively to Variety, offering the first visual glimpse of the story that will be presented at the Venice Gap Financing Market from September 4 to 6.
From “Totém” to “Cábula”: A Brief Career Overview
Lila Avilés first gained international attention when Totém won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2023. The award marked her as one of the most promising voices in contemporary Latin American cinema. Since then she has been invited to serve on juries, speak at film schools and collaborate with European co‑production partners. Her work is noted for its lyrical realism and focus on marginalised communities.
What Is “Cábula” About?
Set in the fictional Mexican town of Mexicalpan, Cábula follows the life of Toña, a young woman who inherits a modest family bakery after her mother’s sudden death. The narrative explores Toña’s struggle to keep the bakery afloat while confronting the encroaching influence of a corporate chain that threatens the town’s cultural identity. Themes of community resilience, economic disparity and the power of food as memory are woven throughout the script.
First Look Image and Its Significance
The released photograph captures Toña, played by emerging actress María del Rosario, standing in front of the bakery’s weathered façade. Sunlight filters through a cracked window, highlighting the textures of the tiled floor and the handwritten sign that reads “Cábula.” The image conveys the film’s visual tone: intimate, grounded and suffused with a warm colour palette.
According to Avilés, the picture reflects her intention to portray everyday rituals as sites of resistance. She told the Berlin International Film Festival’s official site that the bakery serves as a metaphor for the larger community’s fight to preserve its heritage.
Venice Gap Financing Market: Platform for International Co Production
The Venice Gap Financing Market, part of the larger Venice Film Festival, is a venue where producers pitch projects to potential financiers, distributors and broadcasters. The market focuses on projects that have secured some funding but still require additional resources to reach completion. By showcasing Cábula at this event, Avilés hopes to attract European co‑production partners and secure the final tranche of financing needed for post‑production.
Industry observers note that the market has helped launch several acclaimed films in recent years, including works that later competed for the Golden Lion. Participation signals confidence in a project's artistic merit and commercial potential.
Production Details and Creative Team
Filming took place over eight weeks in the state of Veracruz, where the production team built a functional bakery set that doubled as a community gathering space. The crew comprised a blend of Mexican talent and international specialists, reflecting Avilés’s commitment to cross‑cultural collaboration.
- Cinematographer: Diego García, known for his work on Los Olvidados (2021).
- Production Designer: Ana Martínez, who previously designed the interiors for Roma.
- Composer: Carlos Vega, a rising figure in contemporary Mexican film music.
- Executive Producers: Alejandro Torres (Mexico) and Sofia Lombardi (Italy).
The film’s editor, Isabel Ortega, will shape the final narrative rhythm, a task she describes as “balancing the quiet moments of daily life with the urgency of change.”
Anticipated Themes and Cultural Context
Avilés has spoken about her desire to explore how small towns negotiate modern pressures without losing their soul. The bakery, a central symbol, represents not only sustenance but also the transmission of recipes, stories and values across generations.
Scholars of Mexican cinema have highlighted the importance of food in national storytelling, noting that culinary spaces often serve as sites of social commentary. By focusing on a bakery, Cábula joins a lineage of films that use food to examine identity, class and belonging.
Industry Reception and Market Prospects
Early reactions from industry insiders have been positive. A representative from a European streaming platform described the project as “a compelling portrait of resilience that aligns with current audience interests in authentic, character‑driven stories.”
Potential co‑production partners from Spain, France and Italy have expressed interest, citing the film’s strong visual style and its relevance to global discussions about small business survival in the face of corporate expansion.
Should the project secure the necessary financing at Venice, post‑production is slated to begin in late 2026, with a target release in the 2027 festival circuit. Avilés aims to bring Cábula to both art house venues and broader theatrical distribution, leveraging the momentum generated by her Berlin success.
As the film moves toward its next phase, the first look image stands as a promise of a story that blends personal intimacy with broader social commentary, a hallmark of Avilés’s storytelling approach.
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