A hybrid feature documentary in development
In Costa Rica—celebrated worldwide as an ecological paradise—an artist builds an experimental cultural center deep in the jungle, only to watch it become the target of violence, corruption, and arson. As the search for justice unfolds, the lives of local farmers, activists, and outsiders begin to intersect in unexpected ways.
Blending documentary realism with magical realism, Cries of a Jaguar explores the fragile boundary between myth and reality in a country where paradise is both fiercely protected—and dangerously contested.
Project Status
Cries of a Jaguar is a hybrid feature documentary currently in development. Extensive footage has already been filmed in Costa Rica, including interviews, environmental cinematography, and material documenting the creation of an experimental cultural center and the conflicts surrounding it.
The film is now entering its editorial development phase. Current work focuses on assembling the feature narrative, integrating hybrid visual elements such as animation and magical-realist sequences, and organizing archival materials including legal documents and correspondence that form part of the story’s investigative thread.
Additional filming may occur to document key legal developments and, if conditions allow, a return visit to the site. The production is seeking collaborators and resources to support the film’s editorial development, animation refinement, and final production stages.
A short hybrid documentary, Hijo del pastor (son of the field) developed during early production of Cries of a Jaguar.
The film follows a young Costa Rican farmer navigating ecological and economic pressures while searching for hope and belonging.
The film follows a young Costa Rican farmer navigating ecological and economic pressures while searching for hope and belonging.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT:
Storytelling has always been central to my work—across writing, painting, sculpture, theater, and film. Cries of a Jaguar emerged from years of artistic exploration and lived experience in Costa Rica, where the promise of ecological paradise intersects with deeper tensions around land, power, and human rights.
The film blends documentary realism with elements of magical realism, animation, and poetic narration. Through this hybrid language, it explores the fragile boundary between myth and reality in a country celebrated for environmental protection while confronting complex social contradictions.
At its core, the film follows the emergence of a contemporary queer hero navigating violence, justice, and survival within a broader cultural landscape shaped by machismo, religion, and the legacy of colonial privilege. Rather than reinforcing familiar narratives of victimhood, the film seeks to portray LGBTQIA lives with complexity, resilience, and creative power.
Ultimately, Cries of a Jaguar asks a larger question: how do art, community, and imagination challenge systems that silence dissent? Through cinema, the film attempts to illuminate hidden stories while expanding the visual language of documentary storytelling.