The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box) / El Diablo Fuma (Y Guarda Las Cabezas De Los Cerillos Quemados En La Misma Caja)

The winner of Berlinale’s inaugural Perspectives competition and Best First Feature Award, Mexican director Ernesto Martínez Bucio‘s captivating directorial debut is a visually arresting, darkly imaginative tale of childhood survival that immerses audiences in a world steeped in uncertainty, grief, and superstition.

In mid-90s Mexico City, five young siblings are left in the care of their grandmother after their parents suddenly disappear. As they fight to survive, the line between reality and something darker starts to blur. The grandmother, haunted by eerie visions and deepening fears, becomes more distant, while the children’s grip on reality begins to unravel. After a clash with their neighbors, the siblings withdraw even further into isolation, cutting themselves off from the outside world.