Emmy-winning filmmaker and showrunner Jorge Gutiérrez is back in the director’s chair with the original independent feature “La Venganza Rodríguez,” produced by Spain’s Hampa Studio.
An official synopsis for the project reads: “When tragedy strikes her wrestling family, 18-year-old Leonora Rodríguez must step into the ring to honor their legacy and avenge their defeat. Armed with a burning determination, eccentric training, and a flair for the dramatic, Leonora will face outlandish rivals and her greatest nemesis in the explosive and over-the-top combat of La Venganza Rodríguez!”
“La Venganza Rodríguez,” from Spanish indie studio Hampa, marks a return to independent filmmaking for Gutiérrez, who spent the past several years in the U.S. studio system developing the Lego film “The Billion Brick Race” and directing major Netflix projects including the Annie-winning “Maya and the Three” and “I, Chihuahua!”, the latter shelved by the streamer last year.
This time around, Gutiérrez is taking the independent route to production, and explained to Variety: “I could not be more thrilled and bursting with excitement to collaborate with my friends at Hampa and such a delicious crew of talent from Mexico and Spain! ‘La Venganza Rodríguez’ is a hilariously crazy and violent love letter to my beloved Tijuana, ‘80s Mexploitation border cinema, Lucha Libre, Picasso, Basquiat and fighting video games. I can’t wait for everyone to taste this spicy cinematic dish!”
Gutiérrez once again teams up with his wife, Sandra Equihua, a prolific artist and animator who co-created many of their previous projects. Also on board are Emmy-winning production designer, art director and concept artist Almu Redondo (“Star Wars: Visions,” “Wolfwalkers”); viz dev and concept artist Pakoto Martinez (“The Book of Life,” “Maya and the Three”); story artist Gustavo Cosío (“My Dad the Bounty Hunter,” “Maya and the Three”); Variety Mexican animation talents to track Sebastián and Diego Ramirez—better known as Awesombrosos; and Emmy-nominated editor Myra Lopez (“Maya and the Three,” “El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera”).
“La Venganza Rodríguez” was recently selected as one of 15 animation projects awarded development funding through the third edition of Ibermedia Next, an initiative supporting innovation in Ibero-American animation. Announced during the Annecy Animation Festival’s MIFA program, the selection includes projects from 12 countries and highlights diversity, technological experimentation and bold storytelling. Each project receives up to €150,000 in direct funding, as well as tailored training, consulting and market access through the Ibero-American Animation League.
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