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Los Frikis

Directed by Michael Schwartz, Tyler Nilson
United States, Dominican Republic
2024
105 mins

Inspired by true events, Los Frikis is a powerful coming-of-age story set in early 90s Cuba, centering around 18-year-old Gustavo (Eros de la Puente), who idolizes his older brother Paco (an astonishing Héctor Medina) and his punk, "Frikis" bandmates. When word reaches the Frikis of a potential reprieve from the effects of the economic crisis, they do the now unthinkable: deliberately inject themselves with HIV to live at a government-run treatment home. It's there that they create their own utopia to live and play music freely.

Anchored by both a palpable sense of dread and a youthful spirit of hope, Los Frikis is the latest film from Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz, the filmmaking duo behind 2019’s breakout hit The Peanut Butter Falcon. Produced by Academy Award-winning producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Lego Movie), and starring Adria Arjona, Héctor Medina, and Eros de la Puente, Los Frikis is a brilliant recollection of “Special Period” Cuba.

  • Year
    2024
  • Country
    United States, Dominican Republic
  • Language
    Spanish
  • Premiere Status
    World Premiere
  • Director
    Michael Schwartz, Tyler Nilson
  • Cast
    Hector Medina, Eros de la Puente, Adria Arjona, Luis Alberto Garcia, Jorge Perugorría, César Camilo Roque
  • Writer
    Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
  • Cinematographer
    Santiago Gonzalez
  • Editor
    Jon Otazua
  • Genre
    Drama, Music/Musical
  • Theme
    Marimbas, Spotlight On Cuba, Local

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