El Estudio, Pablo Guisa, Pirotecnia, 4 Ways Co-Production ‘A Fisherman’s Tale’ to Bow at Spain’s Sitges Festival (EXCLUSIVE)

Edgar Nito, whose debut feature “The Gasoline Thieves’’ won the Best New Narrative Director award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, is taking his second feature, “A Fisherman’s Tale,” to world premiere at Spain’s most prominent genre festival, Sitges, and have its Mexican debut at the Morelia film fest, both in October.  

Produced by Pablo Cruz and Enrique Lavigne of El Estudio, Nito’s Pirotecnia Films, L.A.-based 4 Ways Entertainment and associate produced by Grupo Morbido’s Pablo Guisa, the fantasy tale turns on a legend when nature once flourished peacefully around a lake and its islands. Men, consumed by dark desires, spread fear, hatred, and death. The fishermen speak of “La Miringua,” a vengeful mythical creature that pulls sinners into the lake’s depths, dragging them to their doom.

Co-written by Nito and Alfredo Mendoza, the film stars a solid cast led by Noé Hernández (“Miss Bala”), Hoze Meléndez (“I Dream in Another Language”), Mercedes Hernández (“Identifying Features”), Andrés Delgado (“Impossible Things”), Jorge A. Jiménez (“Pacho Villa”) and Renata Vaca (“Saw X”), among others.

“The Fisherman’s Tale” (“Un cuento de pescadores”) marks a return to Sitges for Nito whose “The Gasoline Thieves” (“Huachicolero”) was awarded Best Film in the Órbita Section of Sitges 2019. He also won Best Director at the North Bend Film Festival, among others.

Said Nito: “‘A Fisherman’s Tale’ is the cinematic adaptation of a Purépecha legend passed down orally in the lake regions of central Mexico. It tells the story of a spirit that takes the form of a woman to lure fishermen into the depths of the lake, where she bewitches and drowns them. ‘La Miringua,’ whose name means forgetfulness or to forget, confuses people, making them lose track of time and space until they forget themselves and ultimately lose their lives.”

“This ensemble film also addresses the issues threatening a natural ecosystem that has been impacted by human activity. The characters, rather than facing reality, prefer to see the lake as enchanted, using this as a metaphor to justify the changes it undergoes,” he added.

Expressing El Estudio’s delight at having worked with Pirotecnia on this film, Cruz said: “I believe that Edgar has a vision that is unique, and bringing the story about the Lake of Pátzcuaro and a story that is so Mexican and at the same time so universal makes us very proud.”

The first film adaptation of “Macario,” about an impoverished woodcutter who makes a pact with death, was directed in 1960 by Roberto Gavaldón. It became the first Mexican pic to be nominated for a Best International Film Oscar.

They are also developing an adaptation of Korean movie “Balerina,” and a couple of other films from Michel Garza Cervera, said Cruz.

Founded by Alex Ferrufino, David Mansanalez, John Mercado, and Arie Rose, 4 Ways Entertainment announced in February that they were co-producing “Splash City,” a San Francisco Bay Area-set coming-of-age thriller with Berner, the American rapper and CEO behind the cannabis brand Cookies.

Nito directs, produces and writes through his company, Pirotecnia. His short films have been awarded at festivals worldwide, among them “La Dama de Rojo” (2017), “El Colgado” (2017) and “Masacre en San José.” He also directed Netflix series “Pedal to Metal” (“Dale gas”) as well as helmed music videos with artists Snoop Dogg, Peso Pluma, Santa Fe Klan, B Reel, Alemán and Lupillo Rivera.

The Sitges Film Festival runs Oct. 3 -13; Morelia takes place Oct. 18 -27.