Eleven-year-old Lidia grows up in the early 1980s in the magnificent Western-like desert landscape of Northern Chile. She was adopted by the members of an illustrious transgender troupe, whose nightly show is the only source of amusement for the workers of this dusty mining town. During the day, the men show contempt, but at night desire rises. The mood towards the queer community becomes increasingly aggressive when a mysterious illness begins to spread, said to be passed through a single gaze, when one man falls in love with another. Lidia must find out whether there is any truth to the rumour.

“The rich colours, grainy vintage format and out-of-focus opening and closing credits deliver a visually captivating homage to the cinema of the 1980s story-driven film era.” (www.moviebreak.de)

Diego Céspedes is a Chilean filmmaker. He studied film and television at the University of Chile. In 2018, he won first prize at the Cinéfondation in Cannes with his first short film, THE SUMMER OF THE ELECTRIC LION. THE MYSTERIOUS GAZE OF THE FLAMINGO is his first feature film.

Filmography: 2018 THE SUMMER OF THE ELECTRIC LION, 2022 THE MELTING CREATURES (both short films), 2025 THE MYSTERIOUS GAZE OF THE FLAMINGO

Awards (selection): Un Certain Regard Award (Cannes International Film Festival, France 2025), Sebastiane Award for Best Latin American Film and Youth Jury Award (San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain 2025), Grand Prix and FIPRESCI Award (Brussels International Film Festival, Belgium 2025)