Michel Franco’s ‘Dreams,’ Starring Jessica Chastain and Isaac Hernández, Launches at AFM

The Match Factory has launched sales for the new feature by acclaimed Mexican director Michel Franco, “Dreams,” at the American Film Market, and made a promo available for buyers. The film marks the second collaboration between the director and Jessica Chastain.

Variety revealed in July that the Match Factory would be the sales agent on the project (here).

Franco’s “Memory,” starring Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard, premiered last year in competition at the Venice Film Festival, where Sarsgaard was awarded the Coppa Volpi for best actor.

“Dreams” features Chastain in the leading role, alongside dancer Isaac Hernández. Currently a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, Hernández has worked with the English National Ballet in London, the San Francisco Ballet, and most of the major ballet companies. He made his acting debut in the film “The King of All the World” (2021). The cast also includes Marshall Bell (“Stand by Me”), and Rupert Friend (“Asteroid City,” “Homeland”).

In “Dreams,” Hernández plays Fernando, a young ballet dancer from Mexico, who dreams of being internationally recognized and living in the U.S. Convinced that he will receive support from his lover, Jennifer (Chastain), a socialite and philanthropist, Fernando leaves everything behind, narrowly escaping death. His arrival disrupts Jennifer’s world, and she will do anything to protect both their futures—and the carefully curated life she’s built.

The feature is produced by Teorema, with Franco and Eréndira Núñez Larios as producers; in association with Freckle Film, with Chastain and Kelly Carmichael as executive producers; with Eastern Film, with Vladimir Artemenko as executive producer; and with AR Content with three times Academy Award nominated Alexander Rodnyansky as producer.

Franco’s other films have also been selected by major festivals. “Sundown” (2021), featuring Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg, and “New Order” (2020) both premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival, with “New Order” receiving the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize.

Other awards include the Un Certain Regard jury prize for “April’s Daughters” at Cannes in 2017, best screenplay for “Chronic” at Cannes in 2015, and the Un Certain Regard top prize for “After Lucia” at Cannes in 2012.

The Match Factory also represents “Memory,” “Sundown” and “New Order.”