Matininó begins with the decision of ldaliz Villanueva to flee from a violent marriage when her two daughters—María and Desirée—were 6 months and 7 years old. As a way to heal from this experience and explore cycles of violence, the Villanuevas come together to craft a fantasy film—reimagining themselves into an alternative world where women hold the power. The plot of the fantasy unfolds in parallel with the family’s creative process, as the family navigates their own personal grief and the fantastical demands of the world they have created. Through this lens, the family is able to explore difficult histories in a way that centers their narrative on the possibility of new worlds.

Matininó is a participant of the 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab.