EXCLUSIVE: Spain’s AF Films is producing a feature-length documentary titled La Casa Del Carnaval on how the trans and queer communities contributed to the creation of carnival culture in the Canary Islands.
Directed by Joel Barrios, the doc will piece together conversations with Spanish queer pioneers like Laura Mendoza “La Lecherita” and Marcela Rodríguez, alongside newer voices like Lola Rodríguez and Drag Sethlas, alongside unseen archival footage.
The AF team said in a statement that the project was “born as a space for memory, art, and resistance.”
“As a production company, we believe in giving voice to those who transformed Carnival into an act of freedom and expression—beyond the celebration itself: a reflection of identity and collective struggle,” AF said. “And in this case, supporting first-time directors also means betting on the future of cinema. We believe in first visions, in risk, and in the power of a voice that’s just beginning to tell its story.”
The project was conceived and directed by Joel Barrios, who formerly served as a creative director at Netflix.
“Determined to focus on directing, I found a story that had long been waiting to be told,” Barrios said in a statement. “This documentary is a tribute to my homeland, to my favorite celebration, and to the people who found in Carnival a space for liberation—and sometimes even for survival.”
The post ‘La Casa Del Carnaval:’ Documentary On The Queer & Trans Communities’ Contributions To Carnival Culture In The Canary Islands Set At Spain’s AF Films appeared first on Deadline.
