Celebrating Queer Voices in The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo

The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo features a cast of predominantly non-actors and first-timers, with the film powerfully led by newcomer Tamara Cortés in the role of twelve-year-old Lidia. Making up the rest of the cast is trans activist-actor Paula Dinamarca (Naomi Campbel, Nona: If They Soak Me, I’ll Burn Them) and Luis Dubó (The Year of the Tiger, Dawson Isla 10)—both collaborators on Céspedes’ previous shorts—breakout actor Matías Catalán (Bitter Gold), Ficción sonora podcast host Pedro Muñoz (in his film debut), Vicente Caballero, and newly discovered screen talents Bruna Ramírez, Sirena González, Alexa Quijano, and Francisco Día Z who make up the ensemble of Lidia’s chosen family—all of whom Céspedes cast from within the Chilean trans and queer community.

Inspired by his own experience growing up close to the queer community in the outskirts of Santiago, The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo marks the thirty-year-old filmmaker’s third film to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival, following his 2018 short and directing debut The Summer of the Electric Lion, which won the Cinéfondation First Prize and the Nest Prize at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and 2022 short The Melting Creatures, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival’s Semaine de la Critique and continued with bows at Toronto, San Sebastián, and Clermont-Ferrand.

A rare Chilean film to receive the honor of selection at Cannes—and one of the only queer films to be in the International Best Picture race this year—The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo has been widely praised by critics who have commended its handling of genres and rich embrace of characters and the warmth they bring to the screen. Overwhelmingly lauded as an impressive debut work, the film has also earned ample admiration for its stunning cinematography by Angello Faccini and vibrant score by Florencia Di Concilio. 

Altered Innocence will begin theatrical for the film on December 12 at Roxy Cinema New York, with further cities and theaters to be announced. Diego Céspedes will be in person for Q&As on December 12 and December 14. More details can be found at www.alteredinnocence.net