QUESTION#1: What excited you the most when making this film?: The fact that I was bringing cinema to my community. I owe so much to Mexico, it has given me the experiences that shape the way I perceive life. 'Lillo' connected my passion for filmmaking with social purpose, as I was able to involve my family, give opportunities to local talent, and tell a story that serves as a love letter to my hometown. The project to me became more than just a film; it transformed into a way of giving back to the place and people whom I love.

QUESTION#2: What was the most significant film you've seen AT THE THEATER in 2024, and how did it influence your filmmaking?: Carropasajero is a masterful Colombian documentary by Juan Pablo Polanco and César Alejandro Jaimes that I got to watch at the FICG film festival. It awakened something profound in me. The way they captured raw honesty about exile and dreamlike beauty showed me that documentary filmmaking can transcend mere observation. It inspired me to seek that balance where truth meets artistry, where everyday life transforms into visual poetry.

QUESTION#3: What's an obvious and not-so-obvious question someone might ask about your film?: When my grandmother died, I wondered where she went. All of my family felt an enormous pain; my little cousin, even though he felt it too, somehow managed to find joy every day. My mind wanted to understand how he was doing it. Then I realized that in order to understand him, I had to think like a child, I had to feel like a child again.
'Lillo' sounds like 'niño' (boy in Spanish) to enhance the idea that in order to go through pain, we have to remember that children find beauty in everything. Life is beautiful even though loved ones are no longer there. I've always felt a strong connection with my inner child, that is why in my hardest moments, I take care of it to keep growing through life's experiences.
Now I know where she went…she lives in the fields where we grew up, in a colorful sunset, in the river that flows, but most importantly, in our souls. My vision is for the audience to see the world as Lillo does, through the eyes of innocence, through the heart of a child.

QUESTION#4: A magic movie genie is giving you an unlimited budget for your next production! However, you're only allowed to use it on either "above line" or "below line" resouces. Which do you choose and why?: Definitely below the line, I have the story, and throughout my journey, I have met not only talented people but people who have made me grow as an artist and human that I certainly know we will be growing together.

QUESTION#5: What is it about your current movie that will influence your next film?: The engagement of community, my love for magical realism, and the sensibility to touch hearts.

Social media tags to share with our readers: @andreafigueroachavez_. @lillo_shortfilm

5Q's w/: Andrea Figueroa "Lillo" Director, Writer, Producer