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ANTI-PRINCESAS, by Alejandro Icaza, Premieres at the 24th FICM

Brisa Naomi R. L.

As part of the 24th edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), the documentary Anti-princesas, directed by Alejandro Icaza, had its world premiere with the presence of Mercedes Becker and Raquel Aguirre, founders of La Cana, as well as members of the production team: Gabriela Maldonado, Arantxa Oliver, Lucía Ferreyra, Chema Ramos and Patrick Danse. Also in attendance were Gheisel Juvenky and Brenda, two incarcerated women whose life stories and struggles are a central part of the project.

The film portrays the reality of ten women held at the Nezahualcóyotl-Bordo Xochiaca Penitentiary Center in the State of Mexico. It centers on a theater workshop facilitated by La Cana, a social enterprise that works with incarcerated women as part of its efforts to prevent violence within women’s correctional facilities. Over the course of approximately six years, the organization has conducted theater workshops in these settings and staged six productions.

The primary goal of the film is not to present a dark or cautionary depiction of prison life, but rather to reflect the human reality of the women who are incarcerated there.

During the presentation, the production team highlighted that gaining access to the prison and obtaining the necessary permits to film were made possible thanks to the relationship of trust that workshop leaders Arantxa Oliver and Lucía Ferreyra had previously built with the inmates, the result of years of accompaniment and constant work. This relationship was essential in allowing the presence of the cameras to be integrated into the process without compromising the sense of closeness and respect toward the protagonists.

Alejandro Icaza reflected on the contexts of violence and the nature of romantic relationships that can influence the circumstances leading some women to end up in prison. The director highlighted the importance of recognizing the social and patriarchal structures that perpetuate cycles of violence, inequality, and exclusion, emphasizing that the core issue lies within a violent, cyclical social system that must be dismantled at its roots.

After its world premiere in Morelia, Anti-princesas will soon have screenings at DocsCDMX, where it will continue its tour. Meanwhile, the team is actively seeking commercial distribution to expand the film’s reach and bring these stories to new audiences.