Director Luis Téllez is currently in the middle of production on his new movie Inzomnia, which is set to make history as the first stop-motion animated movie to be filmed completely in Mexico. Set in a dystopian world, the movie tells the story of a city whose rulers have created the Inzomnia pill, which is forcefully given to each citizen and, as a result, negates their need for sleep. Over time, the citizens begin to lose their memory, effectively becoming hollow versions of themselves. However, a 10-year-old girl named Camila becomes the city's unlikely savior. Separated from her family, Camila escapes Inzomnia and, as such, is able to sleep — and dream. It is, in fact, in her sleep that Camila enters the magical Dream World, where she meets nine-year-old Cesar. Together, they embark on a fantastical adventure in search of ways to overthrow the rulers, save her family, and bring peace to the sleepless city.
After winning the Ariel Award — the Mexican equivalent of the Oscars — for Best Short Animation in 2019 for his film Viva El Rey, Téllez served as the Animation Supervisor (2nd Unit) for director Guillermo del Toro's upcoming Pinocchio, one of 2022's most anticipated animated movies. In fact, part of Pinocchio was filmed at the newly opened animation studio Taller del Chucho in Guadalajara, Mexico. The studio contains three sound stages with the potential to host 25 animation units simultaneously. It is here that Inzomnia is currently being shot.
Mariana Méndez Alejandre Will Co-Produce Inzomnia
Inzomnia reunites Téllez with Viva El Rey executive producer Mariana Méndez Alejandre. In addition to Viva El Rey, Alejandre has executive produced critically acclaimed shorts like Zero Hour, Bestia, and Ala Kachuu - Take and Run — the latter two were nominated earlier this year at the Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film and Best Live-Action Short Film, respectively. This time, Alejandre will co-produce Inzomnia. Here's what she had to say about the upcoming, history-making film in our exclusive interview:
"It can be a bit daunting, but I think it's amazing. I love a challenge, and I think this is the perfect challenge, especially everyone [involved] whose hearts and souls are in it. It's going to be something really special."
As outlined by Americas Quarterly, Mexican cinema entered a "second Golden Age" in the 2010s. On a global stage, del Toro, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Alfonso Cuarón each won Best Director at the Oscars in separate years, and, domestically, film production grew exponentially with each passing year. When it comes to a film as momentous as Inzomnia, all eyes are naturally on Téllez' film.
"A lot of people are so excited and so supportive. Other people are worried that we're not going to be able to pull it off. And then, a small percentage are waiting for us to fail. But I think that's the beauty of it. If the stakes weren't as high, I don't think it'd be as exciting."
Inzomnia's anticipated release date is set for late 2024.