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The Message | Die Nachricht
Competition 2025
© Iván Fund, Laura Mara Tablón, Gustavo Schiaffino / Rita Cine, Insomnia Films
A young girl’s gift for communicating with animals gives her guardians the idea of offering consultations with her as an animal medium in order to earn a living. The roles are clearly delineated: the woman, Myriam, interprets the messages that the girl, Anika, receives while Myriam’s partner Roger negotiates the price for each transaction. On the dusty roads of the Argentinian countryside, the supernatural is not greatly valued and the opportunistic adults take whatever little money they can get. But one thing is certain: whether magic or fraud, Anika’s commitment in the sessions with domestic and wild animals is real. The unusual trio journeys to Anika’s mother who is institutionalised in a psychiatric hospital and, like all the women in her family, appears to possess the same gift. As their trip unfolds, it becomes clear that little Anika is the one providing comfort to the adults. An emotional road movie in which maturity means realising that innocence is a treasure to be protected.
by Iván Fund (Director, Screenplay), Martín Felipe Castagnet (Screenplay)
with Mara Bestelli, Marcelo Subiotto, Anika Bootz, Betania Cappato Argentina / Spain / Uruguay 2025 Spanish 91' Black/White World premiere Rating R 12

With

  • Mara Bestelli (Myriam)
  • Marcelo Subiotto (Roger)
  • Anika Bootz (Anika)
  • Betania Cappato (Eloísa)

Crew

Director Iván Fund
Screenplay Iván Fund, Martín Felipe Castagnet
Cinematography Gustavo Schiaffino
Editing Iván Fund
Music Mauro Mourelos
Sound Design Leandro de Loredo, Omar Mustafá
Production Design Adrián Suárez
Producers Ivan Fund, Laura Mara Tablón, Gustavo Schiaffino
Executive Producer Laura Mara Tablón
Co-Producers Paz Lázaro, Fernanda Perez, Sandra Rojas, Germán Ormaechea Puig, Edson Sidonie, Florencia Visconti, Evangelina Rojas

Produced by

Rita Cine

Insomnia Films

Amore Cine

Blurr Stories

Panes Contenidos

Animista Cine

World Sales

Luxbox

Photos

Press Conference

Red Carpet

Iván Fund

© Betania Cappato

Born in San Cristóbal, Argentina in 1984. His films have screened at festivals around the world including Cannes, Venice, London and Busan. In addition to directing his own projects, he works as a screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and editor including on the film Una escuela en Cerro Hueso which was presented in the 2021 Generation section of the Berlinale and received a Special Mention from both the Children’s and International Juries.

Filmography

2009 La Risa (The Laugh) 2010 Los Labios (The Lips); co-director 2011 Hoy no tuve miedo (Today I Felt No Fear) 2012 Me perdí hace una semana (I Got Lost a Week Ago) 2013 AB; co-director 2017 Toublanc 2018 Vendrán lluvias suaves (There Will Come Soft Rains) 2021 Piedra noche (Dusk Stone) 2025 El mensaje

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2025