Chilean Duo Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña Present 'Princesa Burro' at Locarno

At the Locarno Film Festival, Chilean filmmakers Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña unveiled their latest feature, 'Princesa Burro', competing for the Golden Leopard. The film is a handcrafted, genre-bending reinterpretation of the classic fairy tale 'Donkey Skin' (Peau d'âne). Known for their innovative stop-motion and mixed-media animation, León and Cociña have crafted a work that blends folk horror, surrealism, and artisanal techniques. The film marks their return to feature-length storytelling after their acclaimed debut 'The Wolf House' (2018). 'Princesa Burro' is described as a 'folle planète cinéma' (crazy cinema planet), reflecting the duo's distinctive visual language and narrative experimentation. The screening at Locarno highlights the festival's commitment to avant-garde and auteur-driven cinema. León and Cociña, who work collaboratively from Santiago, Chile, continue to push the boundaries of animation, incorporating puppetry, painting, and live-action elements. The film's inclusion in the main competition underscores its significance in contemporary world cinema.