Jonathon Ker, a veteran exec producer with a track record of bringing new talent to the U.S. market, and filmmakers Alejandro Saevich and Jorge Aguilera, who are both co-founders of Mexico City-based production company Madrefoca, have teamed to launch MADRE in the U.S. With a fresh perspective born from the Latin gaze, MADRE is looking to serve as a collaborative, truly bilingual production house that redefines crossover narratives and visions.
The new venture’s directorial roster, which has a global bent, includes Luisa Kracht, a two-time Cannes Bronze Lion winner, Brazil-based duo Kid Burro, up-and-coming talent Faride Schroeder who is currently the Free the Work ambassador for Mexico, and an international ensemble hailing from Argentina, the U.K., Spain, Mexico and the U.S. MADRE is also home to ESTUDIO, a one-stop animation studio featuring filmmakers and animators who are looking to make their mark in North America–including Guadalajara-based stop motion directors Sofia Carrillo, Juan Jose Medina, and Luis Tellez, who have won several Ariel Awards (Mexico’s Academy Awards) and most recently collaborated with director Guillermo del Toro on his stop-motion adaptation of Pinocchio, which earlier this year won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
While Saevich and Aguilera continue to be active via Madrefoca, they have extended their reach to the U.S. market via MADRE. Saevich and Aguilera share with Ker an affinity for and history of discovering new talent. With more than 25 years in the industry, Ker has brought such notable directors as Michel Gondry and Gore Verbinski to the U.S. market. Likewise Saevich, an award-winning filmmaker in his own right, has long demonstrated a talent for creating unique work environments that emphasize creativity and excellence. The Argentinean-born producer has the ability to balance auteur cinema and advertising, facilitating talent who work fluidly across commercials, features, music videos, and independent projects.
In his 25-year career, Aguilera has spanned editing, writing, producing, and mentoring new talent. Aguilera’s multi-awarded directing career includes commercials, music videos, and feature films. In advertising, he has worked with leading worldwide agencies and brands.
Looking to deliver excellence of craft bathed in culture, MADRE is described by Ker as “a dream turned into reality. The amazing talent we have gathered will surely conquer the heart of the U.S. market.”
Incidentally, the alluded to Bronze Lion-winning work directed by Kracht came in 2012 for Nike’s “The Day The Stadium Spoke” out of BBDO Buenos Aires, and five years later for an Argentina Tourism campaign.
