At a religious retreat, Lidia befriends Arantxa with a fabricated tale. But after discovering a dead fairy, Lidia questions her lies and the true essence of friendship.

Interview with Director Daniela Soria

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

The idea for this film originated from a conversation I had with the co-writer, Mar Flores. We realized that, despite our different childhoods, we both felt lonely and like we didn't fit in. So, we decided to create Fairytales to show how loneliness can actually bring people together and teach us some important lessons. Plus, since we both really love fantasy, we wanted to make a story about how fantasy and fiction can feel like an escape from the real world, finding comfort in our imaginations, all set against the backdrop of a religious environment.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

This film was created as a tribute to our inner child, serving as a means to heal our own childhood experiences and the friendships we yearned for. We genuinely hope it resonates with the audience in some way, and if nothing else, it can feel like a warm bittersweet hug and a reminder to never let our imagination die.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

At its core, the story revolves around the universal experiences of loneliness, friendship, and the challenges faced while grappling with one's identity during childhood.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

The film and script were constantly evolving throughout every step of production and even during postproduction. The story truly came alive with the casting of Regina and Aurora, who perfectly embodied the characters of Lidia and Arantxa. They met on set and we shot the scenes in almost chronological order, allowing us to witness their relationship blossom on screen. We also embraced the spontaneity of on-set moments and learned to work with unfavorable circumstances. During the last day of filming, the sun set before we could complete the final scene, leaving a few shots unfinished. Initially, we were upset about not being able to achieve the desired ending, but during postproduction, while reviewing the footage, we realized that we actually preferred the new ending. It offered more room for interpretation and created a more intimate moment. Additionally, the performances delivered by both actresses were outstanding, and we knew we had to preserve them.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The film is yet to premiere for the first time but so far we have gotten some interesting reactions and overall positive feedback! We are interested to see how the audience in New York will react to it in June.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

It has been fascinating to see the different interpretations of the film in ways we never imagined. As this was part of our university thesis, the entire filmmaking process exposed us to various perspectives on the film, but in a way, they all made sense to us one way or another. The most interesting reactions we have gotten are from teachers who, like me, feel like this is actually a very sad and kind of dark story, even though on the surface it may not seem like it. Similarly, we weren't expecting to have a big world premiere, and we were completely starstruck to learn we would premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

We aspire to reach a wider international audience, as we embark on our festival journey. We have just started our festival run, so we don't know where our film will go next, but we are excited to see it grow! Additionally, we are actively working on more projects and would love to connect with more people for potential collaborations.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

There are many aspects of this film that are open to interpretation, particularly regarding the fantastical elements and their underlying meanings. Additionally, the film explores the relationship between fantasy and religion, and whether these two concepts can coexist, or not.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

We are developing a feature that is based on the same universe of Fairytales and are also about to shoot our next short film this summer!

Interview: May 2023

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Cuentos de Hadas (Fairytales)

At a religious retreat, Lidia befriends Arantxa with a fabricated tale. But after discovering a dead fairy, Lidia questions her lies and the true essence of friendship.

Length: 15:20

Director: Daniela Soria

Producer: Emanuel Sandoval

Writer: Mar Flores, Daniela Soria

About the writer, director and producer:

DANIELA SORIA is a writer, director, and producer from Monterrey, Mexico, who is dedicated to creating captivating stories about childhood and gender identity. In 2022, she graduated from the Universidad de Monterrey with a degree in Film Production. Her debut short film, En Mayo También Nieva, was featured at various film festivals throughout Mexico, and in 2021, she won the Best Director award at the Festival de Cine Mexicano Tamatán. That same year, Soria received a grant for young creators from the Programa de Estímulos a la Creación y Desarrollo Artístico (PECDA) to direct her second short film, La Última Muñeca. The film went on to win the Best Narrative award at The Girl Improved Film & Television Festival and has been showcased at festivals in Mexico, Ecuador, and the United States. Daniela’s third short film, Cuentos de Hadas, is set to premiere this summer at the Tribeca Film Festival.

MAR FLORES is a production designer and creative director who graduated from the University of Monterrey with a Bachelor's Degree in Film Production. She is passionate about multidisciplinary arts such as music and fashion, and she is socioculturally motivated by an interest in psychology and culture. In 2020, she co-founded the collective Fílmicas, a platform that showcases and promotes the work of women in the film industry. She has participated in various short films and audiovisual projects as a director, art director, and has also composed music and created sound designs for short films. Her first co-directed short film, En Mayo También Nieva (It Also Snows in May), was an official selection and won the Best Director award at the Tamatán Festival. She worked as an art director for the winning short film, La última muñeca (The Last Doll, 2021), and recently, as part of her thesis, she directed Cuentos de hadas (Fairytales, 2023), which will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

EMANUEL SANDOVAL is a graduate of the University of Monterrey with a Bachelor's Degree in Film Production. Interested in film production and the film industry in Monterrey, he funded the emerging production company Lumerat Films with the intention of fostering the relationship between aspiring artists and entrepreneurs in the city. With 4 years of experience, he has worked in film clubs, exhibitions, and the production of socially themed short films.

Key cast: Regina Espronceda López (Lidia), Aurora Aguilar García (Arantxa), Hansy Berenice García

Instagram: @_cuentosdehadas

Made in association with: La Tuna Group

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

Tribeca Film Festival/AMC 19th St. East 6 - June 8 to June 17
Online: June 19 to July 2.