In 1873, a witch marks a family for death. When dark forces descend on the quiet homestead of Vidal de Hidalgo, he must confront something older and more powerful than anything he's faced before. Dusty haciendas, oil-lamp shadows, and … something terrible is waiting just outside his door.
Joe Manuel Gallegos Jr. as Don Arcadio. "Pathologist Jerry" on AMC+ Dark Winds & on "Conquistador Bartender" on Max’s Duster.
Can he rescue his uncle? Can he save the farm? Can he kill the witch?
J Diego Gonçalves as Don Ulises. "Nurse" on Apple TV's Pluribus & "Naphtali" on Amazon Prime's Joseph of Egypt.
Why TECOLOTE?
This is a film you've never seen before, and now you get to bring it to life.
Principal photography on TECOLOTE is wrapped – but that doesn't mean it can get out into the world without you. We are asking for $2,000 to cover what we owe and what's ahead.
Your support will go directly towards:
Paying back production costs – wardrobe, crafty, set decoration, SAG fees, and much, much more!
Film stock purchase & development – we're exploring re-recording the final cut from a projector onto 16mm film to recreate the look of poor digitization you see on older Westerns, giving TECOLOTE an authentic film texture
A long and fruitful festival run – submission fees, promotional materials, and screenings
The Filmmakers
Hi! My name is Nata Aguilar! I'm the writer and director of TECOLOTE.
I'm a New Mexico-based independent, student filmmaker with 25 credits spanning directing, writing, cinematography, and a whole bunch of other stuff. My work includes MALPAÍS, Sweltering Heat…Al Sur Del Norte, and Unspeakable Acts of Cruelty, along with Director of Photography credits on films like GREED, Unmasking, Horseheads, First Time Sexpot, A Lesson in Fistory, and its hot sequel Double Fisted.
TECOLOTE is my most ambitious project to date. It's also been my most laborious. Why go through the trouble of making art?
My stories are vignettes of Hispanic cataclysm, and I intend them to be well-crafted, well-told movies of rich histories I have inherited. I am proud of TECOLOTE as a homespun New Mexican thriller that has been inspired by the landscape, local history, and folklore, as well as being a movie that has been given a voice by a New Mexico cast and crew. With TECOLOTE, I intend to bring my communities together so we may enjoy these stories and grow from them.
This is a movie that has never existed ever. Now, you can help bring it to life.
– The MAÍZ Team
Diary
Thank you -- now help us spread the word!
To everyone who has pledged so far – thank you. Seriously. Every single pledge means the world to us and brings TECOLOTE closer to the finish line.
We have until March 20th to hit our goal, and we need your help to get there. If you believe in this project, the best thing you can do right now is share the campaign on your Instagram story. Tag us, tell people why you're backing TECOLOTE, and help us get the word out – here's a post ready to share!
