Cristo Fernández (Ted Lasso) and Paloma Cinco’s production company, Espectro MX Films, is releasing the trailer and first-look photos of their latest indie film, No Translation Required. Additionally, the 90-minute bilingual romantic comedy will premiere at the Guadalajara Film Festival in April.
Directed by Rafael Altamira (Carretera 15, When You Are Gone), the film was written and conceptualized by Fernández and Kelsie McDonald (In Flight, When You Are Gone), who also serve as executive producers. Cinco served as producer.
Based on a true story, No Translation Required centers on Paco (Fernández), a young taco vendor who recounts to his close friend Memita (Michelle Rodriguez) how he met Gabby (McDonald), an assistant at a Los Angeles fashion brand — sparking a cross-border romance shaped by ambition, distance and immigration realities.
“Our film speaks to this moment,” Fernández tells Deadline. “It’s about love without borders — linguistically, culturally and emotionally. We’re proud to tell a story rooted in Guadalajara that connects globally.”
McDonald adds, “The only thing stronger than hate is love. That idea feels especially resonant in today’s cultural climate.”
The ensemble cast also includes Daniel Sosa (Y Llegaron de Noche), Valentina (RuPaul’s Drag Race), David Elsendoorn (Ted Lasso), Alexis “Ojitos de Huevo” Arroyo and Kike Vázquez (Nothing to See Here), Paloma Cinco (De La Cruz), alongside Silvia Manazzone, Patricia Barbosa, Fred Di Rosa, Olly Roy, Fernanda Ureña, Edwin Ruiz, Josué Núñez, Jaime De La Torre, Mateo Ortega, Tom Hall, Alejandro Frutos and Mexican pop star Sofish in her acting debut.
Though filmed entirely in Guadalajara, the story unfolds between Guadalajara and Los Angeles. Cinco emphasized the strategic importance of filming in Jalisco.
“Receiving the cash rebate from Filma Jalisco was instrumental in structuring our production,” she shared. “Jalisco is positioning itself as one of the most competitive production destinations in Latin America — not only because of its incentives, but because of its crews, facilities, and long-term vision for the industry. It’s an exciting moment for filmmakers building from here.”
Cinematography is by Yohanan Montaño (Made in Mexico). The production reunites key creative collaborators from Corina (2024), Espectro MX Films’ most recent feature co-production, including costume designer Anna Barroso Bou, production designer Lou Pérez Sandi and hair and makeup designer Verónica G. Ríos.
The international post-production team includes Emmy-nominated composer Tom Howe (Ted Lasso, Shrinking), who scored the film. Sound design and music supervision are led by Odin Acosta and The Hub, with Mexican composer Daniel “Danny” Carrillo contributing additional music. The film is edited by Antonio Méndez (Acapulco), with color, online and VFX by Franz A. Novotny at GeKolor Studios. Digital Film Tree (Ted Lasso, The Umbrella Academy) supervised the conform and finishing workflow.
With this latest project, Espectro MX Films continues to expand its footprint as a binational production company bridging Mexico and the United States through culturally driven storytelling.
The trailer can be found below.
English (US) ·