10 · 17 · 26

THE GARDEN WE DREAMED, the third feature film by Joaquín del Paso, premiered at the 24th edition of the FICM

Alan Rodríguez

Joaquín del Paso premiered his third feature film, The Garden We Dreamed, at the 24th edition of the Morelia International Film Festival, as part of the Official Selection lineup. The Mexican filmmaker held a press conference, accompanied by the actress Kimaelle Holly Preville; the actors Faustin Pierre and Carlos Esquivel; the producers Fernanda de la Peza and Itzel Sierra; and the co-producer Alejandro Sugich. 

Filmed in the forests of the State of Mexico and Michoacán, the film tells us the story of Esther, Junior, Flor, and Aisha, a Haitian family that migrates north through the American continent, driven by the hope of a better future. There, in the heart of Mexico, they face the harsh reality of illegal logging in a place where the migration of the monarch butterfly becomes a symbol of hope and resilience for a new beginning.  

Del Paso noted that he wrote this film in 2021, just at the height of the pandemic, when the Mexico-United States border was closed and migration came to a halt, including that of the Haitian community in central Mexico, where the effects of deforestation and climate change became evident in the decrease of the monarch butterfly population. 

“For me, the idea came from wanting to make a film about two different migrations that converge at one single point […]. Showing a different perspective on migration, where nature becomes the protagonist, was very important to me” stated the director.

During the press conference, some members of the media praised the film’s sound design, which became an equally important character in its own right. The director stated that the film was envisioned as an intense and immersive interplay of image and sound.

He did not miss the opportunity to highlight the work of Lena Esquenazi and Valeria Mancheva, whose contribution gave the sound a remarkable depth. On the other hand, Fernanda de la Peza emphasized the key role of Turkish cinematographer Gökhan Tiryaki throughout the shooting process: “He was constantly motivating the team. It was a demanding physical effort, and Tiryaki kept everyone moving forward.”

The actor Carlos Esquivel shared with the media the crucial role that communities play in defending and protecting natural resources: “They are the ones responsible for planting seeds in order to give birth to a gradual transformation. Hopefully, we all will start raising global awareness and awaken to the fact that we are destroying both our resources and our people.”

Before concluding the press conference, Joaquín del Paso shared a message from actress Nehemie Bastien, who expressed her gratitude for the warm reception the film has received and reminded everyone that every migrant carries a story worthy of being heard.

The Garden We Dreamed has achieved significant global recognition due to its participation in the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival and its win of the Golden Biznaga for Best Ibero-American Film, the Silver Biznaga for Best Director, and Best Cinematography at the Málaga Film Festival.