Mexican actress Nathalia Acevedo will make her directorial debut at the Venice Film Festival with "Salon de Belleza", an adaptation of Mario Bellatin's novel selected for the Giornate degli Autori, the festival's independent parallel section. This was reported by Screen Daily on July 22, 2026.
Acevedo is internationally recognized for her acting role in "Post Tenebras Lux" (2012), directed by Carlos Reygadas, which won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. "Salon de Belleza" marks her transition behind the camera with a story that has become a reference point in contemporary Mexican literature. Bellatin's novel narrates how a gay hairdresser turns his salon into a refuge for the sick during an epidemic ravaging an unnamed city. The co-production between Kintsugi Cine (Mexico) and Farol (France) reflects the growing interest of the European circuit in emerging Mexican talent. The Giornate degli Autori, founded in 2004 as an independent response to the official Mostra selection, has served as a launchpad for directors such as Chloé Zhao and Alice Rohrwacher.
The cast is led by Belgian actor Sam Louwyck, accompanied by Erwan Kepoa Falé. The cinematography is by Balthazar Lab, the editing by Olivia Neergaard-Holm, and the sound design by Oscar winner Nicolas Becker. The art direction is handled by Nathan Parker, known for his work on "The Grand Budapest Hotel". In the same section, the Argentine film "Sadness Sometimes, Other Times Revolt" by María Aparicio competes. Meanwhile, "The Phantom", created by Argentine artist David Lamelas alongside Ignacio Masllorens, is presented as a special event outside of competition, according to IONCINEMA. The jury for this edition is presided over by Spanish filmmaker Carla Simón, winner of the Golden Bear at Berlin for "Alcarràs".
The Venice Film Festival will take place from September 2 to 12, 2026. Acevedo's presence in a section that has served as a springboard for new voices in world cinema confirms the continuity of a generation of Mexican female directors with international projection, alongside names such as Lila Avilés and Tatiana Huezo.
This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.
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