BNN_Breaking: 'Donkey Princess' at Locarno

Bendita Film Sales said on July 9 that it had acquired international sales rights to “Donkey Princess,” the new feature from Chilean filmmaking duo Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña, ahead of the film’s world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival. Variety reported the deal on Thursday, saying the film will play in Locarno’s main International Competition. Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña are best known internationally for “The Wolf House,” and Variety described “Donkey Princess” as the pair’s latest feature and their third after “The Hyperboreans.” Bendita describes itself as a boutique international sales agency based in Spain. ### Which company picked up the film, and for what? Bendita Film Sales acquired international rights to “Donkey Princess,” according to Variety’s July 9 report. In practice, that means the sales company will represent the film to distributors and buyers outside its home market as the title heads into its festival launch. Luis Renart, chief executive of Bendita Film Sales, said in remarks carried by secondary coverage that the company was renewing its collaboration with León & Cociña Films after “The Hyperboreans.” That same report quoted him calling “Donkey Princess” “another extraordinary leap” in the directors’ work. ### Why is Locarno part of the story? Locarno selected “Donkey Princess” for its main International Competition, according to Variety and the festival’s July 9 official-selection rollout. That places the film in the section that competes for the Golden Leopard, Locarno’s top prize. The Locarno Film Festival is holding its 79th edition in Switzerland in August 2026, according to festival materials and program pages. The festival’s industry platform, Locarno Pro, and related events run during the same period, putting competition titles in front of press, programmers and buyers. ### Who are León and Cociña in the festival market? Variety identified León and Cociña as the directors of “The Wolf House,” the stop-motion-inflected Chilean feature that established the pair on the festival circuit. The trade also said “The Hyperboreans,” their previous feature, played in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. Bendita’s catalogue and company profile show a sales outfit that works with auteur-driven festival titles. Its public materials say the agency curates a selective slate of films that have played at events including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Locarno and San Sebastián. ### What exactly has been confirmed so far? Variety confirmed the rights pickup, the filmmakers’ names and the Locarno competition berth on July 9. BNN_Breaking posted the same development on X that day, summarizing that Bendita was handling international rights for the Locarno-bound film from the “The Wolf House” directors. Locarno’s official-selection announcement also landed on July 9, according to the festival’s published livestream notice and lineup coverage. That timing explains why sales news around competition titles began appearing the same day. ### What happens next once a Locarno competition title gets a sales company? In August 2026, Locarno screenings and market activity will give Bendita its first formal launch window for “Donkey Princess” with international buyers, festival programmers and press in Switzerland. The 79th festival’s on-site events run in early to mid-August, according to Locarno program and industry pages.