Set to premiere at the Panama International Film Festival (IFF Panama), Félix “Trillo” Guardia’s debut feature-length documentary “The Sorcerer: Julio Zachrisson” celebrates the provocative legacy of Panamanian artist Julio Zachrisson.
Produced by Tomás Cortés of Cine Animal, with the backing of Panama’s Ministry of Culture, the film melds animation, archival footage, and interviews to chronicle Guardia’s personal quest sparked by childhood memories of Zachrisson’s unsettling yet fascinating artworks.
“The first time I saw one of Zachrisson’s prints, I thought it was the ugliest thing ever created. Hanging in my grandmother’s elegant living room, the piece clashed with the rest of the collection.” Guardia explained in his statement. “It depicted a graphic scene of a woman defecating on a plate while a hungry dog watched her. I was 12 years old, and I’ll never forget the impact it had on me.”
The documentary traces Guardia’s journey from Panama to Madrid, seeking out the artist. The resulting friendship, portrayed in the film, offers audiences a reflection on “memory, history, identity, and art as a bridge between generations,” the synopsis reads.
“Art is useless, but we can’t live without it.” a quote from the artist flashes across the screen in the teaser, soundtracked to a Clave rhythm. We catch glimpses of his work, rich with exaggerated human forms, expressionistic and surreal but with a narrative in each to be told. He describes how he was considered a freak in his native Panama leaving in 1953 never to return.
Zachrisson passed away in December 2021 at his home in Madrid. “His death marked a turning point in the film’s production, leading us to reconsider the narrative’s direction. We realized that the most important thing was to pay tribute to his life and work,” Guardia comments.
“The Sorcerer: Julio Zachrisson” forms part of an ambitious transmedia initiative, “The Zachrisson Legacy,” aiming to preserve and amplify the artist’s impact across various platforms. The project also includes “Toro Volandero,” Panama’s first-ever feature-length animated film inspired by Zachrisson’s graphic universe, scheduled for release in 2026, and also directed by Guardia as well as interactive museum exhibitions and a comprehensive digital archive of Zachrisson’s works. It reflects a swarm of interest in the artist who has had little to do with cinema, other than catching the eye of Abner Banaim (“Plaza Catedral”) for his short doc “Zachrisson,” from 2016.
“I want the audience to feel the same shock and fascination I did when I first encountered his work,” Guardia says. “I want them to question their own perceptions and dare to see beyond the surface.”