a film by Kani Lapuerta with Karla Bañuelos
[NIÑXS] is an incredibly sensitive, adventurous, rich, and joyful piece of cinema – and life....
Emilie Bujès (Visions du Réel, Artistic Director)
Synopsis
In the magical town of Tepoztlán, Mexico, fifteen-year-old Karla intimately, and unabashedly, guides audiences in her journey for self-discovery, as she navigates the joys and uncertainties of adolescence, alongside society's gender prejudices.
While Karla navigates her transition, Kani shapes eight years of footage into a joyful film. Through Karla's exploration of her transgender identity, the film presents an empowering, yet sweet coming-of-age story about self-expression, resilience, and the complexities of growing up, that is as specific as it is universal.
We collaborated closely with Karla, allowing her to influence the visual language—whether through selecting specific locations or incorporating elements she found meaningful.
Kani Lapuerta (Director of NIÑXS)
Karla
Karla has many faces.
There are days when she is radiant and this is reflected in her eyes, her makeup and her tone of voice.
Other days, she feels crushed by the reality of the world she lives in, finds it hard to socialize and spends hours cooped up watching makeup videos or prank TikToks.
Like any teen, she often fights with her mother because she can't always get her way. Oliver and Valentina, her best friends, are her party accomplices and partners in all things love and heartbreak. She is 5'7” tall and loves to dress in clothes she found when vintage shopping, building her very own aesthetic....
Assur
Assur is a mystery with legs.
Behind his tousled hair, his beard and his huge glasses, one senses a sensitive, loving man with a lot of life experiences.
He is extremely meticulous in everything he does, from brushing his teeth to preparing a dish for the restaurant he runs with Chio.
Tattooed and tanned, Assur is a man from another era, he has no cell phone, no credit card and prefers to meet to have good meal with even better conversation.
He is a loving father, even if sometimes he might spoil Karla too much.
Chio
Chio is a Chihuahua in the body of a 1'50m and 40 years old woman from Malaga.
This woman is a master chef, with a very strong character that often hides her immeasurable tenderness.
Chio is the radio of the house, her voice can be heard at all hours talking about all kinds of topics.
As a mother, she often clashes with her teenage daughter, whom she does not always manage to understand. Still, the love they share is evident for all to see.
Oliver
Oliver, Karla's brother by choice, is an anime fan and movie lover.
Karla and Oliver have the funniest love-hate relationship.
Instagramer, Youtuber, Tiktoker.... Oliver is overflowing with energy and self-confidence and accompanies Karla on several of her adventures.
Valentina
Valentina is that friend who always has something to say, and she will say it, sometimes without taking a breath.
She talks a lot, listens little, but has a big heart. She is the only straight and cis friend, something she herself points out as if she were the weirdest one in the group, but her overflowing energy and contagious smile make everyone love her, even when she monopolises conversations.
She's the kind of person who, though sometimes exhausting, you can't help but want to have around, because her light and enthusiasm fills any space.
It is time for trans people to create trans images and imaginations. For far too long, we have been imagined by cisgender people—in documentary filmmaking and across all fields.
Kani Lapuerta (Director of NIÑXS)
Kani Lapuerta
Kani Lapuerta is a trans filmmaker and researcher.
He studied a Masters in Documentary Film at the Escuela Nacional de Estudios Cinematográficos de la UNAM in Mexico. His work explores projects and spaces that challenge hegemonies around gender, sexuality and corporealities, while opening new possibilities through the audiovisual medium.
In 2023, he wrote and directed “La UNAM sin Límites”, a miniseries produced by UNAM and Procine CDMX, which proposes narratives of sex-gender dissidence within Mexico's largest university.
In 2021, he released “La Fuga”, a short documentary film that explores masculinity and the prison experience. The film debuted at the Morelia International Film Festival and received awards at several international festivals.
In addition, Kani teaches film workshops in institutions and cultural centers in Mexico and abroad, sharing his passion for audiovisual language as a tool for creation and transformation.
FILMOGRAPHY
2025 NIÑXS, 82 min
2023 LA UNAM SIN LÍMITES, 5 Episoden 85 min.
2021 LA FUGA, 18 Min.
festivals
Switzerland
WORLD PREMIERE
05.04.2025 - Grande Salle, Nyon
12.04.2025 - Grand Salle, Nyon
Ambulante
Mexico
MEXICAN PREMIERE
03.04.2025 - 12.06.2025
Ciudad de México, Baja California, Querétaro, Veracruz & Yucatán.
impact
Watching and talking about NIÑXS can support learning processes, enable more young people to understand trans identity and identify with Karla's experiences- not only in Mexico but everywhere. And you can be a part of it:
Let's join forces with the trans movement by collaborating:
NIÑXS aims to connect with activists, organizations and networks who advocate for the recognition of rights and identities of trans* people.
Let's create safer spaces to encourage trans people to share their experiences, especially trans youth, in screening and through social media.
For safer and more mindful communication around trans* stories please check the downloadable communication guide linked on our website.
Let's promote informed conversations about gender and sexual diversity in classrooms, high schools and universities.
Let's foster inclusivity and respect for the trans* community.
Become an ally!
Do you want to be an ally of NIÑXS, support the film & movement for trans rights?
Please click on the button to fill out our impact form or send an email to tweets@sparrowsonrooftops.de
Producer
Suleica Pineda
suleicaadriana@gmail.com
Co-Producer
Anke Petersen
anke@sparrowsonrooftops.de
Co-Producer
Dirk Manthey
dirk@sparrowsonrooftops.de
lasandiadigital.org.mx
Ciudad de Mexico, MX
sparrowsonrooftops.de
Hamburg, GER
Ciudad de Mexico, MX
noisefilmpr.com
Berlin, Germany
DIRECTOR
Kani Lapuerta
PRODUCER
Suleica Pineda
PRODUCTION
Jo Beard
EDITOR
Yuri Amaral
MUSIC
Boris Skalsky
Jonathan Noveron
TITLES/ CREDIT DESIGNER
Jacopo Asam
SECOND EDITOR
Saudde Cevallos (AMMAC)
IMAGE POST PRODUCTION STUDIO
Splendor Omina
SOUND POST PRODUCTION STUDIO
Superhearo
DOP
Quetzalli Malagón
CO-PRODUCERS
Anke Petersen
Dirk Manthey
Martha Orozco
SOUND RECORDISTS
Karina Villaseñor
Jonathan Noveron
CARD DESIGNER
Charlie Claire Burgess
POSTER DESIGNER
Jaime M. Gracia
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Pía Vásquez
COLOR GRADER
Rocio Ortiz
SOUND DESIGNERS
Eloisa Diez
Janis Grossmann-Alhambra
DURATION
93 min
YEAR
2025
COUNTRY
Mexico
Germany
LANGUAGES
Spanish
SUBTITLES
English
PR
NOISE PR
Mirjam Wiekenkamp
