"An impressive debut … beautifully shot and oddly poetical as it tackles familiar themes such as love, honour, loyalty and friendship." – Screen Daily

In a small town in the backwoods of Colombia, 16-year-old Mateo is trying to juggle the triple pressures of school, soccer practice and his job as a debt collector for his crooked loan shark uncle, Walter. When his grades start slipping, Mateo is threatened with expulsion – unless he joins the after-school theatre troupe. Initially reluctant, Mateo begins to discover a new sense of purpose in performance, but the increasingly dangerous Walter will not let him escape so easily.

A grippingly authentic tale of the choices we face between right and wrong, Mateo is the assured first feature from filmmaker Maria Gamboa. Based on her own experiences working with at-risk youths on the frontlines of Colombia's guerilla conflict, Mateo offers an impassioned message about the importance of community and the liberating power of art.

MIFF recommends ages 12+

_{All films featured as part of the Next Gen program are approved for screening by the Australian Classification Board. Next Gen screenings are open to all ages, but people under the age of 15 must attend in the company of an adult guardian.}

School-group bookings are also available for this film; visit Next Gen for more details.