Emily Zemler
Updated on: October 10, 2024 12:27 am GMT
IFF 2024: Daniela Forever
XYZ Films COO on Launching Henry Golding Sci-Fi Romance ‘Daniela Forever’ at TIFF and How the Genre Specialist Became an Indie Studio
XYZ Films, a company known for its strong genre focus, recently launched its sci-fi romance film “Daniela Forever” at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Directed by Nacho Vigalondo (“Colossal”), the film stars Henry Golding and Beatrice Grannò.
The story follows Nicolas (Golding), a British DJ in Madrid grappling with the grief of his girlfriend Daniela’s tragic death. In an attempt to aid his healing, his friend Victoria encourages him to join a clinical trial for a drug that enables him to construct his dreams and recreate his memories of Daniela. Initially, the dreams start off sweet, allowing him to relive moments with her, but as Nicolas becomes increasingly controlling, he faces the haunting reality of his emotional dependency.
The film explores themes of grief and the potential dangers of losing oneself in fantasy. It employs a distinct visual style, switching from a grainy, 4:3 aspect ratio to a vivid widescreen format, representing the difference between reality and dreams. Golding delivers a powerful performance as Nicolas, revealing a complex character whose journey through grief poses challenging questions about love and ownership in relationships.
“Daniela Forever” aligns perfectly with XYZ Films’ mission, combining elevated genre storytelling with a romantic plot line. COO Maxime Cottray explained that the film represents the company’s evolution from sales to becoming a full-fledged independent studio, focusing on financing and distributing filmmaker-driven projects. The film’s successful premiere at TIFF highlights its potential for wider distribution and audience reception.
Related Films
- Can I Get A Witness?: Directed by Anne Marie Fleming, this film tackles a dystopian world where those over 50 are mandated to end their lives by the government.
- Ick: A horror film by Joseph Kahn featuring a rural town besieged by an alien entity, though it faced criticism for its execution and narrative coherence.
The information is all about “Daniela Forever” and why it matters for the festival and XYZ Films.
