Gael García Bernal’s ‘Hombre Al Agua’: First Look at the Cast with Débora Nascimento and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo at EFM
Paris-Based The Pool Films Secures Sales for Gael García Bernal’s Hombre al Agua
The Pool Films has secured sales rights for Hombre al agua, the latest feature from acclaimed Mexican actor and director Gael García Bernal, just ahead of the European Film Market this week.
In Hombre al agua, which translates to "man overboard," García Bernal not only stars but also directs the film. He is coming off his recent performance in Lav Diaz’s Megallan. An official English title has yet to be announced.
Co-written by García Bernal and Mariano Pensotti, the film is characterized as “an introspective drama infused with humorous elements and surreal, dreamlike sequences, delving into a realm of manipulation and the falsehood of social masks.”
Featuring a notable Latin American cast, Hombre al agua includes talents such as Esmeralda Pimentel (Almost Paradise), Débora Nascimento (Lady Voyeur), Natalia Oreiro (Muñeca brava), Anna Díaz (Totally Killer), and Manuel García Rulfo (Jurassic World Rebirth, The Lincoln Lawyer). Jorge Salinas, known for his work in Amores Perros and a leading telenovela star, completes the ensemble.
This marks García Bernal’s third directorial project, following Déficit (2007) and Chicuarotes (2019), which premiered at Cannes as part of the Critics’ Week and the Official Selection, respectively. The Pool Films aims to position Hombre al agua as a strong contender for the 2026 festival season.
The film is produced under La Corriente del Golfo, the banner co-founded by García Bernal and fellow actor Diego Luna, along with Fernanda de la Peza and Stacy Perskie. As sales launch, the production has released an initial image from the film.
Fernanda de la Peza expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We’re truly excited about Hombre al agua, a visually beautiful film with original humor and depth. Joining forces with The Pool Films is one of the first steps that Hombre al agua is taking in its pathway to show itself to the world. We hope for a long and enduring partnership and can’t wait to share the film with audiences soon.”
The Pool Films was established last fall by sales industry expert Gilles Sousa, who previously directed Pulsar Content, and producer Tim Belda. Backed by VFX company Digital District Group and Victorine Studios in the South of France, the venture is preparing for the European Film Market with a lineup of upcoming films.
Sousa expressed his excitement about collaborating with García Bernal, noting, “I am thrilled to collaborate once again with Gael García Bernal, whose singular vision and creative courage continue to resonate internationally. Hombre al agua is a visually striking, deeply human film that blends humor and introspection with remarkable confidence.”
Belda added, “We are proud for The Pool Films to support Gael’s latest feature and to help bring it to audiences around the world.”
