Cinema Fantasma's Ambriz Bros. on Self-Financing 'I Am Frankelda,' Mexico's First Stop-Motion Feature

The founders of Cinema Fantasma, the Ambriz brothers, are breaking new ground with "I Am Frankelda," a landmark stop-motion feature they describe as Mexico's first of its kind. In an exclusive interview, the duo discusses the challenges and determination behind self-financing the project, rejecting the constraints that come with outside funding in order to maintain creative control over their vision.

Beyond the film itself, the Ambriz brothers speak to a larger ambition: building a sustainable domestic animation industry in Mexico. Drawing on lessons from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, they reflect on what it takes to nurture homegrown genre storytelling and craft infrastructure that can support future generations of Mexican animators.