I AM FRANKELDA.
I AM FRANKELDA
A NETFLIX PRESENTATION
Interview with Directors: Arturo Ambriz and Roy Ambriz
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diRwnGRr-Ko
Welcome to the unique stop motion animated universe of brilliant Mexican directors Arturo and Roy Ambriz: ‘I am Frankelda’. It’s the story of a gifted writer, Francisca Imelda, whose dark tales are ignored and dismissed. The plot takes place in the mid 19th century Mexico, and it is Francisca’s romance with a Prince from of another realm. More than a film, it is a haunting and romantic musical dark fantasy that will lift up your soul from the dead and will make you feel alive and kicking! This original production began in January 24 in Mexico City, and it was mainly self-funded by the brothers Ambriz. Guillermo del Toro came on-board as a mentor figure and helped refine the final cut which was released in theaters in Mexico in October 25 and which is now being released by Netflix all over the World on June 12, 2026. On the eve of its release and for a special screening as part of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, we met with Arturo and Roy to talk about their vision and their passion for this truly magical feature.
Q: Hola! Please, let us know what we can expect with this unique cinematographic experience?
Brothers Ambriz: This movie is about creativity and the process about telling stories. For us it was important to show the process and the journey an author goes through to create a story. For us, Mexican filmmakers, it has been very hard to make our own films. It is not easy to create such genre driven films in Mexico.
Q: What was the role of Netflix?
Brothers Ambriz: Well, at the end, Netflix came on board for a Worldwide release. And it is important for us because this is the only way to connect with a bigger audience beyond Mexico. Initially we were afraid nobody was going to see this film, but now, with Netflix, the whole world will discover ‘I am Frankelda’. We are very grateful to Netflix for helping our movie.
Q: In what way Guillermo del Toro was involved with your film?
Brothers Ambriz: Guillermo was a big inspiration to us. It’s amazing to see a fellow Mexican director creating monster and being so successful. Symbolically he is giving permission to dream and to make these types of fantasy films. We are very grateful about his mentorship and for helping us with the completion of our movie.
Q: What character do you identify the most to?
Brothers Ambriz: Frankelda! Because she keeps dreaming and she never quits! She wants to write at all costs. But in a way we identify to the prince character who is trying to keep his kingdom together. And that’s because we have an animation studio in Mexico and it is not easy to keep it together. In a way, because of our lives experience, we created the two protagonists of our film, and this is why this feature was born.
Q: What do you think this film is truly about? The themes explored.
Brothers Ambriz: We really enjoy the process of creating Art. The process of writing stories, of making films. This film is about an author who faces obstacles. One of the messages we want to convey to the younger audiences is to tell them to keep creating and making art.
Q: What’s your takeaway with your film, what do you hope the audience get from watching it?
Brothers Ambriz: We hope this film inspires the young audience to write their own stories and to never quit their dreams. And to also be brave enough to finish an artistic project that is difficult and as we did.
Q: What’s coming next?
Brothers Ambriz: We are working on our next film: ‘Ballad of a Phoenix’. It’s a medieval adventure. We have some Mexican governmental funding to work with and to start. We are building the sets and getting the puppets together. We hope we find distribution and meanwhile we are passionate about this new film.
