From Mexico, Urzula Barba Hopfner’s directorial debut, Corina, has the North American Premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film & Television Festival Global category. Hopfner co-wrote the script with Samuel Sosa. Corina premiered to critical acclaim at the Guadalajara Film Festival. It won the Best Film Award in the Made in Jalisco competition, and later, at the Guanajuato Film Festival, it received the Press Award.
The film stars Naian González Norvind (New Order) as Corina, a style corrector for a newspaper in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the publishing division. She is assigned to a remote office/desk away from all the other staff in the building. She does not mind, as this works for her lifestyle of being alone and living with a relative who has agoraphobia. Corina has learned to live a quiet life and only leaves home to work, buy her favorite beverage on the way there, and do limited shopping – all on the same block. She only uses the sidewalk and does not step on the streets. She is in her late 20s.
Fernanda owns the store where she shops and introduces her to her newly arrived cousin Carlos (Cristo Fernández, Ted Lasso, Las Tres Sisters) who is now working at the shop. Carlos soon learns Corina’s schedule and beverage preference and kindly attends to her needs as Fernanda does.
Corina receives limited assignments from her boss, Lili, but on her own at home, she does write stories. She then stores them away, never to be seen/read. While at work, Corina overhears a crisis regarding the best-selling author of a book series and how it could impact business. Corina has a sudden burst of creativity about resolving the issues but does so without anyone’s authorization. The journey that Corina decides to pursue is quite a leap outside her comfort zone – an adventure she needs Carlos to help her with, given her limited exposure to the world beyond her neighborhood.
Naian González Norvind gives a terrific performance, given that her character is limited in her speech due to shyness, but she speaks volumes with her eyes. Seeing her transform from her original lifestyle to someone who changes when she sees a need is great. Cristo Fernandez is fabulous in his role, kind and gentlemanly as the one who becomes her “hero” of sorts, helping her be successful on this journey. All the supporting cast are excellent as well, making this a joyful and entertaining time at the cinema.
Cinematography by Gerardo Guerra (Dos Estaciones), production design by Lou Perez Sandi, with original music by Gus Reyes and Andres Sanchez.
SXSW Screenings (after March 8th):
Monday, March 10, 6:15 pm at the Violet Crown Cinema 2 and Cinema 4
Thursday, March 13, 3:1:5pm at the Alamo Lamar 2 and the Alamo Lamar 7
Source: SXSW