EXCLUSIVE: Spanish filmmaker Miguel Ángel Jiménez, the writer-director of Willem Dafoe starrer The Birthday Party, has set his next feature film with AF Films.
The new drama, dubbed Hijos del Miedo, tells the story of Salva, a young, far-right radical who spends his days between a job he hates at a large distribution warehouse, caring for his grandfather while also having wild nights out with his group of friends.
One night he brutally beats up an immigrant and then decides to flee to southern Spain to hide in the home of an old family friend who has no idea what kind of person Salva has become. In this area of greenhouses, relentless sun and intense social tension, Salva meets Cherry, a young woman who sparks in him a doubt about who he really is. AF Films is developing the project with Jiménez.
“The greatest challenge of this project will be the point of view from which we will tell Salvador’s journey because we are going to do it by his side, without judging him from a superior position,” said Jiménez. “I fear the film will be controversial in that respect but, at the same time, within that risk, I believe we will find an authentic portrait of the path many young Spaniards take in the face of what they believe is cornering them: the capitalist system, the rise of feminism, immigration, LGTBI policies.
“The tragedy is enormous, without a doubt, when these men decide to take out their frustration on those who are most vulnerable. I want to explore their reasons. I want to feel their rage. I want to try to understand them in order to, hopefully, offer some alternative to their hatred.”
AF Films founder Frank Ariza said: “Here at AF, we feel deeply committed to cinema that dares to look directly at the most complex realities of our time. That is why we decided to support Miguel Ángel Jiménez’s new project, a story that approaches radicalization processes, violence and above all, the possibility of change, with honesty and sensitivity.”
Operating between Europe and the U.S., AF Films has a track record of developing high-end feature films and prestige television through strategic studio alliances, top-tier producing partners and sophisticated cross-border financing models.
Its portfolio includes Above and Below with Antonio Banderas, Last Days (in collaboration with MUBI and the Royal Opera House of London), Reversión, El vestido, La silla, Sundance winner Sorry, Baby and Fragmentos.
