In this stunning biopic from Academy Award-winning director Roger Ross Williams, Saúl Armendáriz (Gael García Bernal), a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso, rises to international stardom after he creates the character Cassandro, the “Liberace of Lucha Libre.”
In the process, he upends not just the macho wrestling world, but also his own life. Musician and longtime wrestling fan Bad Bunny co-stars, marking his feature film debut.
JBFC Director of Special Event Programming Chris Holliday writes: “I saw Cassandro at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and it’s a triumph. Based on the true story of a gay wrestler in Mexico, the wildly entertaining debut narrative feature film from Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams does not disappoint. Already generating awards buzz, Gael García Bernal’s portrayal of the “Liberace of Lucha Libre,” aka “Cassandro,” shines. It’s emotional, hilarious at times, and has a lot of heart; it is sure to trigger all the feels, so come see one of this year’s stand-out performances on the big screen at the JBFC!”