When an ordinary road trip becomes a moving meditation on innocence, belief, and survival, that’s when The Message quietly asserts its magic. We follow nine‑year‑old Anika as she and her guardians, Myriam and Roger, drift through Argentina in a camper van, offering Anika’s services as an animal medium to anyone who asks. Shot in elegant black and white, the film unfolds with simplicity and sincerity, each silent landscape and subtle gesture brimming with emotional truth. As the young psychic, Anika Bootz—radiant and grounded—anchors the story as she depicts Anika’s bond to dogs, cats, and even hedgehogs, suggesting something otherworldly and wholly believable. Critics celebrated the film at the 75th Berlinale, where it won the Silver Bear Jury Prize, placing Iván Fund among South America’s most distinctive voices. With its poetic stillness and playful charm, The Message is a rare, moving gem. —João Federici
Cuando un viaje común por carretera se transforma en una meditación conmovedora sobre la inocencia, la fe y la supervivencia, ahí es cuando El Mensaje despliega silenciosamente su magia. Seguimos a Anika, una niña de nueve años, mientras ella y sus tutores, Myriam y Roger, recorren Argentina en una furgoneta habilitada como casa, ofreciendo los servicios de Anika como médium de animales a quien lo necesite. Filmada en elegante blanco y negro, la película se desarrolla con simplicidad y sinceridad, cada silencioso paisaje y sutil gesto rebosando de verdad emocional. Como joven psíquica, Anika Bootz —radiante y con los pies en la tierra— sostiene la historia, mostrando el vínculo de Anika con perros, gatos e incluso erizos, sugiriendo algo sobrenatural y totalmente creíble. La crítica celebró la película en la 75ª Berlinale, donde ganó el Oso de Plata del Jurado, consolidando a Iván Fund como una de las voces más distintivas de Sudamérica. Con su tranquilidad poética y su encanto juguetón, El Mensaje es una joya rara y profundamente conmovedora. —João Federici
Iván Fund was born in San Cristóbal, Argentina, in 1984. His films have screened at festivals such as Cannes (Un Certain Regard), Venice, Berlinale, San Sebastian, Rotterdam, Viennale, BFI London, Busan, BAFICI, Havana, Neighboring Scenes at Lincoln Center, Lima, and Mar del Plata, among others, earning various awards. In addition to directing his own projects, he works as a screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, and editor. His latest film, The Message, won the Silver Bear jury prize at Berlinale 2025.
IVÁN FUND: Director