Upcoming Mexican film projects

New fare poised for international life

By JOHN HOPEWELL, JAMES YOUNG

'Norteado'

Mexico's film market now stands as fifth in the world. Further improving that ranking means increasing the percentage of local productions that cross the border into North America's marketplace and beyond. Variety has compiled a list of such films, with production stages ranging from development through imminent premieres. Among them: a biopic about Alex Hodoyan, a "narco-junior" for Mexico's most powerful drug cartel; a gay coming-of-age story; and a film scored by Slash.

BLACK SHEEP
Director: Humberto Hinojosa Oscariz
Cast: Christian Vazquez, Jimena Romo
Production: Tigre Pics
In brief: Retro rural meller harking back to Mexico's great '50s sticks pics
Status: World preems at Guadalajara

CEFALOPODO
Director: Ruben Imaz
Cast: Unax Ugalde, Alejandra Ambrosi
Production: Canana, Irusoin, Axolote
In brief: Imaz's second feature about a bereaved Basque man in Mexico City 
Status: Shooting

LOS CAPOS DEL NORTE
Director: Gerardo Tort
Production: Laberinto
In brief: Scribe Vicente Lenero's take on drug cartel fixer Alex Hodoyan
Status: Shoots in September

FETICHE
Director: Jaime Humberto Hermosillo
Production: Mil Nubes
In brief: Prolific Hermosillo returns with a gay coming-of-ager set in Mexico's provinces
Status: Development

THE GOOD HERBS
Director: Maria Novaro
Cast: Ofelia Medina, Ana Ofelia Murguia
Production: Axolote
In brief: Novaro ("Danzon") returns with a DV pic about an Alzheimer victim
Status: In post-production

EL HOMBRE DE PIEDRA
Director: Eugenio Derbez
Production: Alebrije
In brief: "La misma luna" lead Derbez's helming debut about parenthood
Status: In pre-production

JEAN GENTIL
Director: Laura Amelia Guzman, Israel Cardenas
Cast: Jean Remy Gentil
Production: Canana, Aurora
In brief: Docuesque tale from "Cochochi" helmers
Status: Rolls in May

NORTEADO
Director: Rigoberto Perezcano
Cast: Harold Torres, Sonia Couoh
Production: Tiburon, Mediapro
In brief: Offbeat Mexico-U.S. immigration dramedy that swept San Sebastian's Films in Progress awards
Status: Post

NOTICIAS DE UN SECUESTRO
Director: Pedro Pablo Ybarra
Production: Argos, Caracol TV, Costa
In brief: Adaptation of a nonfiction Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel about early '90s Medellin cartel kidnappings
Status: Rolls late 2009

ON CHILDHOOD
Director: Carlos Carrera
Cast: Damian Alcazar
Production: Argos, Mala Hierba
In brief: A tender portrait of violent childhood, with production design from Salvador Parra ("Volver")
Status: Post

RIVER OF GOLD
Director: Pablo Aldrete
Cast: Robert Carradine, Michael Bowen
Production: Mantarraya
In brief: An 1852-set Mexican Western with a locals-vs.-settlers culture clash
Status: Lensing

ROUND TRIP
Director: Gerardo Tort
Cast: Teresa Ruiz, Cassandra Ciangherotti
Production: Cadereyta
In brief: Tort ("Streeters") helms a Mexican femme road movie
Status: World preems at Guadalajara

THIS IS NOT A MOVIE
Director: Olallo Rubio
Cast: Edward Furlong, Peter Coyote, Edi Gathegi
Production: Kung Fu, Mantarraya
In brief: Las Vegas-set, English-language modern apocalypse sci-fi drama, scored by ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash
Status: Post

TRES PIEZAS DE AMOR EN UN FIN DE SEMANA
Director: Salvador Aguirre
Cast: Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Paola Nunez
Production: De Cuernos al Abismo, Sincronia, Solid Management
In brief: Urban contempo relationship drama from Guadalajara 2001 winner Aguirre ("To and Fro")
Status: World preems at Guadalajara

LA ULTIMA MUERTE
Director: David "Leche" Ruiz
Cast: Kuno Becker, Manolo Cardona
Production: Lemon, Costa
In brief: Near-future action-thriller, from first-time helmer Ruiz, of a twice-dead man running for his life
Status: Shooting