With the focus of this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Mexico, London-based sales agency WestEnd Films has announced that it has partnered with Lupus Films on their forthcoming hand-drawn animated feature about the colourful life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, entitled “Las Dos Fridas.” The title has been developed with the assistance of the BFI.
Written and directed by BAFTA Award-winning writer and director Paloma Baeza, herself of Mexican descent, “Las Dos Fridas” will explore the reasons why the spirited and passionate Frida Kahlo still captivates 65 years after her death. With a visual style inspired by the artist’s paintings and illustrations, the film will form a rich canvas of a life filled with laughter, romance and pain as it focuses on the key moments which changed Kahlo’s life – from the motor accident that permanently disabled her and led her to paint, to her tumultuous love affairs with life partner and soul mate, Diego Rivera, and photographer Nickolas Muray.
Combined with a dramatized depiction of Kahlo’s vivid imagination and entering the surreal worlds of some of her most famous works, the film will paint a searingly intimate and beautiful portrait of this multi-faceted icon. The film is helmed by an all-female team which includes Baeza, producers Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding of Lupus Films, and award-winning art director Sharon Liu. WestEnd Films will sell the film under its WeLove label launched to promote female talent and bring female driven content to serve audiences across all genres.
“We are delighted to be working with the talented team at Lupus Films, as we have long admired their imaginative and moving adult animations. Paloma is a real talent and together they are the perfect team to paint a picture of this inspirational icon of female creativity. The film will be as raw and honest as Frida’s own biographical paintings,” said Maya Amsellem, co-founder of WestEnd Films.
Camilla Deakin, co-founder of Lupus Films, added: “We are really excited to have WestEnd Films aboard this very special project. Like us, they are a female owned and led company, and their reputation of working with female talent across an incredibly diverse set of feature films speaks for itself. We are thrilled that they are as excited by the creative potential of ‘Las Dos Fridas’ as we are.”