Release of "Tótem," a film supported by Aide aux cinémas du monde

Born in 1982 in Mexico City, Lila Avilés is a director, screenwriter, stage director, and actress. After studying performing arts, she started her career in television series before making a name for herself as a filmmaker with her 2016 short film Deja vu. Two years later, she founded her own company, Limerencia Films, before directing her debut feature, La Camarista, that same year. Screened at over sixty festivals worldwide, it was selected to represent Mexico at the 2020 Oscars and then at the Goya Awards. Winning the Ecumenical Jury Award at the 2023 Berlinale, Totem is her second feature film.

In Totem, Lila Avilés follows the journey of Sol, a seven-year-old girl spending the day at her grandfather's house. As a surprise party for her father is being prepared, events take a different turn, disrupting the family’s balance. As the day progresses, anxiety, fears, and pressure escalate, with a delicate medical reality gradually revealed in the background. Amidst this whirlwind of emotions, Lila Avilés deftly captures the solitude of childhood and the shift towards adult concerns.

With dynamic and constantly moving direction, Lila Avilés captures the everyday and intimate life of a family in the midst of doubt. Through her lens, three generations unfold, narrating existential struggles and the trials they face. Subtly, she films these moments of turmoil and hesitation from a child's perspective, while also exploring relationships with others, animals, and the importance of feeling at home in a comforting environment. Her second feature film boasts a carefully controlled rhythm, full of tenderness and gentleness. 

With her debut feature, Lila Avilés gained recognition through festival screenings, as well as the Ariel Award for Best First Film and the Ojo for Best Mexican Feature at the Morelia International Film Festival in 2019. For Totem, she was selected at the 2023 Berlinale, where she received the Ecumenical Jury Award. With its French release, Totem is supported by Aide aux cinémas du monde, co-managed by the institut français and the CNC. This fund supports feature-length fiction, animation, or creative documentary projects for their first cinematic release.