Venice Drama ‘On the Road’ Acquired by Italy’s I Wonder Pictures

Italian distribution company I Wonder Pictures has acquired the Mexican drama-thriller “On the Road,” directed by David Pablos, which world premieres Sept. 4 in the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival.

The film’s producers include Inna Payán and “Andor” star Diego Luna. Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal is handling world sales.

“On the Road” follows Veneno, a rebellious young drifter, who frequents roadside diners where he sleeps with truck drivers. Urgently needing a ride, he meets Muñeco, a hard-edged driver who keeps to himself. He convinces Muñeco to take him deep into the hyper-masculine world of long-haul trucking across the north of Mexico.

As they travel together and an unexpected intimacy builds between them, shadows from Veneno’s past resurface, putting both their lives at risk.

The film stars non-professional actor Victor Miguel Prieto and Osvaldo Sánchez (“Pedro Páramo”).

I Wonder Pictures titles include “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “The Zone of Interest,” “Eddington” and “Sound of Falling.”

“’On the Road’ is a fearless and emotionally raw journey that perfectly reflects I Wonder Pictures’ editorial line: bold, auteur-driven cinema that amplifies underrepresented voices and challenges dominant narratives. Its poetic intensity and radical honesty resonate with our commitment to films that move, disturb, and stay with the audience long after the credits roll,” Giorgia Fassiano of I Wonder Pictures told Variety.

Pablos’ previous credits include “Dance of the 41” and “The Chosen Ones,” as well as directing the first four episodes of Amazon’s Western series “The Head of Joaquín Murrieta.” “The Chosen Ones” screened at major international festivals including Cannes (Un Certain Regard) and San Sebastián (Horizontes Latinos), going on to land a Goya nomination for Best Ibero-American Film.

Payán’s previous titles include “The Golden Dream” (“La jaula de oro”), which received 81 international awards, including Un Certain Talent at Cannes in 2013. Other producing credits include “Devil’s Freedom” (“La libertad del diablo”), which premiered at the Berlinale in 2017, and family drama “Los Lobos,” winner of the Generation KPlus Grand Prix at Berlinale in 2020.

“On the Road” is produced by Payán’s Animal de Luz, in co-production with La Corriente del Golfo, headed by Luna and Gael García Bernal, The Maestros Cine, EFD Studios, Terminal Films and Producciones Año Bisiesto. The film was produced through the Mexican tax incentive Eficine and supported by the CNC.