Cassandra, a movie by Roger Ross Williams, has its world premiere at Sundance 2023

In theaters September 15:
CASSANDRO

Cassandro is the new scripted film from Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Roger Ross Williams, starring Gael García Bernal. It had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, and will be in select U.S. theaters starting September 15 and streaming globally on Prime Video starting September 22.

Gael García Bernal in Cassandro

An outsider turned unlikely superstar

Cassandro is the new scripted film from Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Roger Ross Williams.

It stars Gael García Bernal as Saúl Armendáriz, an American-born luchador wrestler, who grew up near the U.S.-Mexican border in El Paso, Texas.

Being gay in this machismo-driven industry, he creates a flamboyant persona known as Cassandro, the Liberace of Lucha Libre. And against all odds, he becomes one of Mexican wrestling’s most unique heroes, not just upending the macho wrestling world, but also his own life…

Cassandro will be in select U.S. theaters starting September 15 and streaming globally on Prime Video starting September 22.

Roger Ross Williams on set

Rousing portrait of sexual identity

Roger Ross Williams about Cassandro: “I have always been attracted to telling the stories of outsiders. The remarkable real-life tale of Cassandro, a gay Mexican wrestler who lives on the border of the US and Mexico, immediately grabbed me. Here was a true outsider, a gay man in a deeply Catholic culture who rose to fame in the macho world of Lucha Libre wrestling, not by hiding his sexuality, but by making it central to his performance.

My own life experience as a gay, black man has made me realize the importance of telling stories we don’t usually hear. The true story of Cassandro, Saúl Armendáriz, was one I knew I wanted to tell from the moment I met him.”

Roger Ross Williams, Photo by Justin Jun Lee for The LA Times

Photo by Justin Jun Lee for The LA Times

The LA Times: “You’re about to hear a lot about Roger Ross Williams. He’s ready for his moment.”

“I’m so grateful to be in the position I am in this business, to be able to create series, documentary features, now scripted narrative features — to be able to do it all,” he says. “That’s a privilege, and I want to extend that privilege to everyone like me. I want them all to have the same opportunities that I have.”

Read Jen Yamato’s full article with photos by Justin Jun Lee at The LA Times

Traveling while black

Cassandro:
“Seasoned documentarian Roger Ross Williams makes an assured transition into narrative features with this entertaining biopic, which doubles as a gorgeous depiction of mother-son love and an exhilarating exploration of fearless queer identity in a macho environment.”

Hollywood Reporter
David Rooney

Cassandro:
“Williams’ story of coming out and acceptance is both riveting and often touching, and Bernal gives quite possibly his best performance in this beautiful story of finding yourself and becoming who you were always supposed to be.”

Collider
Ross Bonaime

Cassandro:
“Skepticism about documentary filmmakers crossing over to fiction, especially in a project largely in a language not their own with a myriad of culturally specific traits, is justified; but Cassandro results in an impressive transition for Ross Williams”

Indiewire
Carlos Aguilar

Love to Love You, Donna Summer:
“a nuanced exploration of an artist of enormous talent and lasting influence, plagued by inner conflict”

Deadline
Matthew Carey

“Roger Ross Williams is changing the face of documentary film. The prolific Oscar-winning filmmaker and producer has continually leveraged his passion and talent to raise up new voices and stories.”

Indiewire
Influencers Series

“Williams spent two years on this project, and the trust everyone involved placed in him allowed for an emotional honesty that is Life, Animated’s greatest strength.”

LA TIMES
Kenneth Turan

“Roger Ross Williams’ One Story Up Is A Powerhouse Production Company Giving Hope To BIPOC Talent.”

Deadline
2022 Disruptor List

“Traveling While Black draws a line from the past to the present, and forces audiences to confront contemporary realities as well. The film is leading the charge of VR as an instrument of social change.”

Indiewire
Tambay Obenson

“Equally moving, informative, and infuriating, Netflix’s “The Innocence Files” is one of the best true crime series ever made.”

Robertebert.com
Brian Tallerico

“High on the Hog will make you ravenous in every way. For the culinary delights with which it is stuffed to bursting, for its nuanced intelligence, its joy, its pace; for the expertise of its presenter; … and, most of all, for its profound difference in spirit and content from almost everything that has gone before.”

The Guardian
Lucy Mangan

God Loves Uganda:
“Williams is to be commended not only for his filmmaking skill, but also for pulling back the curtain on a most disturbing situation.”

The Hollywood Reporter
James Greenberg

“Life, Animated conveys the deeply moving sense that Owen, however fortunate in his choice of obsession, was even more blessed to be born into a family this tirelessly supportive — one that saw the wisdom of never encouraging him to put childish things away.”

Variety
Justin Chang

High on the Hog:
“A nuanced celebration of African Americans and their food. It is also sorely overdue.”

The New York Times
Osayi Endolyn

“Williams captures vérité footage so shocking that viewers may be squirming in their seats. Masterfully crafted and astonishingly provocative, God Loves Uganda may be the most terrifying film of the year.”

David Courier
Sundance Film Festival