Fernando Eimbcke’s ‘Flies’ and Latin American Films Shine at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival
The 76th Berlin International Film Festival, which commenced on February 18, 2026, has already highlighted several noteworthy films, including the Mexican comedy-drama Flies (Moscas) directed by Fernando Eimbcke. The festival is likewise showcasing other compelling works, such as Rose and Queens at Sea, alongside the Argentinian film Forest up in the mountain.
‘Flies’ – A Delicate Exploration of Connection
Flies, co-written by Eimbcke and Vanesa Garnica and produced by Michel Franco and Eréndira Núñez Larios, centers around an 8-year-aged boy and a middle-aged woman in Mexico City. The film explores the unlikely bond that forms between Olga, a solitary woman who rents out a room in her apartment, and Cristian, a young boy who comes to live there with his father even as his mother is hospitalized. The film premiered in competition at the Berlinale on February 18, 2026, and received a nomination for the Golden Bear.
The film’s premise revolves around Olga’s disrupted routine and the gradual intertwining of the lives of the three characters. Eimbcke’s approach is characterized by a sensitivity to intergenerational dynamics, a common theme in his work. The film incorporates sound design, particularly the buzzing of flies, to emphasize Olga’s discomfort with disruption. Teresita Sánchez stars as Olga, with Bastian Escobar as Cristian and Hugo Ramírez as Tulio. Sánchez also appears in Nicolás Pereda’s The Rest is Noise, also presented at the festival.
Flies marks a reunion between Eimbcke and Franco, who previously collaborated on short films in the 1990s.
Other Films in Competition
‘Queens at Sea’
Lance Hammer’s Queens at Sea, starring Juliette Binoche, is a film that delves into challenging themes of aging and complex relationships. The narrative centers on a woman whose mother becomes intimate with her partner, raising questions about consent and abuse due to the mother’s dementia. The film has been described as painful and uncomfortable, but features strong performances from Anna Calder-Marshall and Tom Courtenay.
‘Rose’
Markus Schleinzer’s Rose, set in the 17th century, tells the story of a woman who disguises herself as a man to claim and prosper on an abandoned farm. The film explores themes of freedom and identity, with Sandra Hüller in the lead role. Despite an initially distracting soundtrack, the film is praised for its rigorous framing, black-and-white cinematography, and consistent script.
‘Forest up in the Mountain’
Sofía Bordenave’s Forest up in the Mountain, which premiered at the Berlinale Forum, addresses the 2017 murder of Mapuche young man Rafael Nahuel in Argentina. Bordenave, a filmmaker and lawyer, uses archival footage, trial recordings, and landscape shots to expose the systemic violence against the Mapuche people. The film is lauded for its intelligent cinematographic procedures and its confrontation of the Argentine State’s historical actions.
The 76th Berlin International Film Festival continues to showcase a diverse range of films that tackle complex social and emotional issues, with a notable presence of Latin American cinema.