For many years, Mexico has been sending talented creators and films to the Berlin International Film Festival, and 2025 was no exception. This year, Ernesto Martínez Bucio and Karen Plata showcased their Mexican film, “The devil smokes (and keeps the heads of the matches burned in the same box),” which made a significant impact. The director and screenwriter presented this film in the “Perspectives” section of the 75th edition of the Berlin Festival, which aims to recognize first-time works or raw operas by creators. In this case, it’s their first feature film.
The film won the GWFF Prize, which was established in 2006 to support new generations of filmmakers. What makes this Mexican film special is that it premiered and triumphed in the new perspective section, a platform for fiction productions that mark the debut of their creators. These productions showcase a different range of voices and cinematographic language. This year, Ernesto Martínez Bucio and “The devil smokes” competed against 13 feature films from around the world. Another film, “On Vous Croit” (“We believe you” in Spanish) by Charlotte Devillers and Arnaud Dufeys, received a special mention in the same section.
The Devil Smokes, a Winning Mexican Film at the Berlin Festival
“The devil smokes (and saves the burnt matches in the same box)” won the GWFF Prize, a testament to the film’s exceptional quality and potential. The film’s success is a significant achievement, considering it was among 13 feature films from different parts of the world.
What is “The Devil Smokes” by Ernesto Martínez Bucio?
The Mexican film “The devil smokes” is a complement to the personal experiences of both Ernesto Martínez and Karen Plata, the screenwriter. It’s an exercise in memory, memories, and emotions evoked from them. According to the director, “memory behaves imperfectly,” and it was this memory that was complemented with his imagination, as the film is a work of fiction.
The film, with some supernatural elements, stars Mariapau Bravo Aviña, Rafael Nieto Martínez, Regina Alejandra, Donovan Said, and Laura Uribe Rojas, and is set in the 90s. It introduces us to a family that breaks apart after the mother’s disappearance, followed by the father’s, who went out to look for her and never returned. The five children are left in the care of their grandmother, who locks them at home and forbids them from playing outside, constantly telling them about the presence of the devil and how it works.
Ernesto Martínez Bucio, the Director of “The Devil Smokes”
Ernesto Martínez Bucio is a Mexican director born in Uruapan in 1983. He studied Communication Sciences and then attended the Cinematographic Training Center (CCC) before earning a master’s degree in Spain. This is not his first time participating in an international festival; his short films have been featured in sections of festivals like Cannes, Cairo, San Sebastián, and Rotterdam. In fact, this is his second time at the Berlin Festival, after participating in the 2016 Berlinale Talents section. Some of his notable short films include “Ashes,” “The mother,” “The reasons of the world,” and “the future.” Now, he has premiered his first feature film, “The devil smokes,” at the Berlin Festival.
