HBO Latino acquired a film festival darling and moving LGBTQ immigrant story Lupe.

The film is an emotional drama that explores the topics of family, immigration, and embracing one’s true identity.

Lupe introduces the complex world of Rafael, a Cuban immigrant, and boxer, struggling with the transgender identity while searching for the missing sister Isabel in New York City’s underground sex industry.

The film stars Rafael Albarran, Lucerys Medina, and Celia Harrison. It is the feature film debut for the directing team of Andre Phillips and Charles Vuolo with consultation from Celia Harrison.

“We are incredibly proud to have Lupe debut on HBO, this bilingual story of loss, identity, and discovery has found its perfect platform. To have a film that features transgender individuals portrayed not as victims but actual champions of their own destiny are such an important message to be seen and heard, front and center without having to be hidden in allegories,” said transgender executive producer Kerry Michelle O’Brien in a written statement.

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The film used a quasi-documentary style of the shoot with hand-held cinematography in New York City and the Dominican Republic. The scenes with Celia Harrison, who played the friend, are unscripted to emphatically retain Celia’s voice and perspective. Harrison is a transgender artist.

Lupo premieres on Friday, February 26 on HBO Latino at 8 p.m. ET/PT and available to stream on HBO Max.

Source: HBO Latino