In pursuit of a better future, Esther and Junior undertake a journey to the northern part of the American continent with Esther’s two daughters. In Mexico, they finally find a place to settle, at least for a while, in a remote bit of forest, where Junior’s employer, a timber merchant, gives them material to build themselves a simple hut. However, this seemingly idyllic situation is quickly disrupted, as the illegal logging of the forest draws closer to their hut and the inhumane working conditions the crew must endure also become increasingly evident.

“Filmdienst” writes: “The film connects the social question with ecological themes, and migration and exploitation with the destruction of the planet. The chamber-drama-like film tells its story in an extraordinarily evocative manner, almost like a dark fairy tale.”

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Joaquín del Paso, born in Mexico in 1986, studied at the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión in Cuba and the Polish National Film School in Łódź. His debut feature film, PANAMERICAN MACHINERY, premiered at the Berlinale in 2016 and won the Mexican Film Award, “Ariel”, for Best Original Screenplay. His second feature, THE HOLE IN THE FENCE, screened at Venice in 2021 and won several prizes at the Cairo International Film Festival.

Filmography: 2016 PANAMERICAN MACHINERY, 2021 THE HOLE IN THE FENCE, 2026 THE GARDEN WE DREAMED

Awards: “Golden Biznaga” for Best Iberoamerican Film, “Silver Biznaga” for Best Director and for Best Cinematography (Malaga Spanish Film Festival, Spain 2026), Grand Jury Prize “Iberoamerican Competition“ (Seattle International Film Festival, USA 2026)