Private Project

Ana's Desire

Ana and her son Mateo live in a middle class apartment in Mexico City. The family routine takes a turn when Juan arrives to visit them after several years of absence. The reunion unleashes memories and secrets of their past that Ana will have to confront in order to find, at last, the peace of mind that has been lacking for so long.

  • Emilio Santoyo
    Director
  • Emilio Santoyo
    Writer
  • Gabriela Vidal
    Writer
  • Valeria Ariñez
    Producer
  • Araceli Velázquez
    Producer
  • Laura Agorreca
    Key Cast
    "Ana"
  • David Calderón
    Key Cast
    "Juan"
  • Ian Monterrubio
    Key Cast
    "Mateo"
  • Simone Bucio
    Key Cast
    "Meli"
  • Emmanuel Varela
    Key Cast
    "Pedro"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    El Deseo de Ana
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 19 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 17, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    250,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Country of Filming:
    Mexico
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Alexa 2K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Mostra de Cinema em Sao Paulo - Sao Paulo International Film Festival
    Sao Paulo
    Brazil
    October 19, 2019
    World Premiere, Latin American Premiere
    Official Selection - New Filmmakers Competition
  • Los Cabos International Film Festival
    Los Cabos
    Mexico
    November 13, 2019
    Mexican Premiere
    Official Selection - México Primero
  • Festival Internacional de Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de la Habana
    La Habana
    Cuba
    December 9, 2019
    Cuban Premiere
    Official Selection - New Films Competition (Competencia de Óperas Primas)
  • Mexico City Independent Film Festival FECIMX
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    July 11, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Hola México Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    September 11, 2020
    United States Premiere
    México Ahora
Director Biography - Emilio Santoyo

Born in Mexico in 1990, Emilio Santoyo has a degree in Film and Television from CENTRO Film School. He has worked as a producer and assistant director in films by Guillermo Arriaga, Bahman Ghobadi and Marcelino Islas. He has been a beneficiary of IMCINE's Program for Cinematographic Creators and winner of the XV National Film Script Contest of the Guanajuato International Film Festival. He is the director and screenwriter of the short film “The Perfect Absent” (2019), selected in the Morelia International Film Festival and Shorts México, as well as “Ana’s Desire” (2019), his debut feature film, selected in the Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Habana International Film Festival, Los Cabos International Film Festival and Cinequest Film & Creativity Film Festival among others. Emilio is part of the Berlinale Talents programme and founder of the production company ANOMIA.

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Director Statement

“Ana’s Desire” is an intimate drama that talks about family, desire and nostalgia, through the observational story of Ana and Juan, two persons marked by the traces of a past which they failed to overcome. For me, this is a redemption story, about how people have to forgive themselves to find peace. When the past knocks at the characters’ door, they struggle with it and embark on a journey that takes them to discover self-forgiveness.