Entertainment
Mexican animators Roy and Arturo Ambriz bring 'Ballad of the Phoenix' to Venice financing market
Following the success of 'I Am Frankelda,' the directing duo is pitching their stop-motion fantasy feature to international co-producers in Venice.
The short version
- Directors Roy and Arturo Ambriz are pitching their stop-motion feature 'Ballad of the Phoenix' at the Venice Gap-Financing Market from September 4 to 6.
- The fantasy film follows a princess fleeing her soul-harvesting father and serves as the duo's follow-up to 'I Am Frankelda.'
- The project, developed over more than a decade, is being produced by Cinema Fantasma, Woo Films, and Cine Vendaval as they seek final co-financing.
Key facts
- Roy and Arturo Ambriz are presenting 'Ballad of the Phoenix' at the Venice Gap-Financing Market, held September 4–6.[Variety]
- The stop-motion fantasy film centers on Virian, a fire-wielding princess fleeing her father who steals souls to extend his life.[Variety]
- The project is produced by Cinema Fantasma, Woo Films, and Cine Vendaval, having originated in development more than a decade ago.[Variety]
- The filmmakers previously released 'I Am Frankelda,' which was the third highest-grossing film in Mexico in 2025 before being distributed worldwide by Netflix in 2026.[Variety]
- Director Guillermo del Toro has served as a mentor and adviser to the Ambriz brothers, encouraging them to scale up their ambition for their sophomore feature.[Variety]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the filmmakers will secure the necessary gap financing and distribution partners during the Venice market remains unconfirmed.[Variety]