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Made in Mexico - Short Films Programme
International Short Films Programme 2: Narrow Margins
In the tough neighbourhood of Tepito, a young boy chases the great Mexican dream: to become a boxing champion. Winner of the Short Film Palme d’Or, Cannes 2026.
In the tough neighbourhood of Tepito, a young boy chases the great Mexican dream; to become a boxing champion. Federico Luis shot on 16mm, where a roll runs almost exactly as long as a round, and kept the adults out of frame so only their voices reach us. What remains is Damián’s narrow, euphoric view of a world at once brutal and tender. This compelling short won the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes 2026.

Credits

Director
Federico Luis
Screenwriter
Federico Luis
Producer
Fernando Bascuñán, Fernanda de la Peza, Elena Fortes, Augusto Matte
Cinematographer
Marcos Hastrup
Editor
Andrés Medina
Music
Satoshi & Makoto
Cast
Damián López, Jesús Esquivel, Ian Haziel Castillo, Jair Monroy, Isaac Rivas Cruz

About the Director

Federico Luis
Federico Luis was born in Buenos Aires in 1990. After several short films, including ‘The Nap’, which premiered in Cannes Competition in 2019, his debut feature ‘Simón of the Mountain’ won the Grand Prix at Cannes Critics’ Week 2024. ‘For the Opponents’ won the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes 2026, the first Palme d’Or awarded to an Argentine director. He is currently developing his second feature