New York City, New York Dec 9, 2025 (Issuewire.com) - The highly anticipated debut feature film Mephisto, directed by Cristian Proa from the Mexican new wave, will be presented in a special screening at the legendary The Films Coop, founded by avant-garde pioneer Jonas Mekas. The film offers an audiovisual journey of  profound themes such as conquering fear, self-acceptance, giving permission to feel, and the discovery of a portal where we have the infinite capacity to connect with each other as living beings.

Mephisto has already garnered international recognition, winning the Starlight Award at the 80th Venice Film Festival, marking a remarkable achievement for Cristian Proas first feature.

Blending psychological depth with striking cinematic aesthetics, Mephisto invites audiences to reflect on the transformative power of human connection and emotional courage. Mephisto was born from a personal need to create something meaningful. It stems from a desire to tell the story of my country as a cradle of initiatory masters who work with other masters to heal the world. My intention is to showcase that country, that world in which I grew up, says director Cristian Proa.

This special screening at The Films Coop honors the legacy of Jonas Mekas, whose dedication to experimental and independent cinema has inspired generations of filmmakers. Proas work aligns with this ethos, offering an immersive cinematic experience that is as visually striking as it is emotionally resonant.

The Film-Makers Cooperative / New American Cinema Group is the oldest non-profit organization devoted to the collection, preservation, and distribution of experimental film and media art in New York City.  Founded in 1961 to support filmmakers and artists outside of the mainstream Hollywood film industry, the FMC / NACG is a member-run organization that distributes and exhibits work from its ever-growing collection of nearly 6,000 films, videos, and media artworks. Public accessibility and non-exclusivity have always been the core of our educational mission, as we work to bring both the history and the future of experimental cinema to audiences in New York and around the world.

The film features Carmen Tinoco, Johana Blendl, Ramiro Meneses, Antonio Monroy and cinematography by Rodrigo Torres, whose collaborative efforts bring the films poetic and contemplative world vividly to life.