“Life and Nothing More” is the next feature film by Spanish filmmaker and teacher Antonio Méndez Esparza, following his his debut film “Aquí y Allá,” which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012 where it won the Critic’s Week Award.

Antonio’s new feature film follows some of “Aquí y Alla’s” premises and goes even further, shooting this time on film instead of digital. At the center of the story are everyday people, played by nonprofessional actors, focusing on the main character: a 30-year-old African American single mother who lives in North Florida with her three sons, with a haunted and unforgiving past, who tries and struggles to make ends meet, while battling the monotony and difficulties of everyday life in an atmosphere festering with social inequality and racism.

Produced by the filmmaker’s Aquí y Allí Films, “Life and Nothing More” is being branded a “docu-fiction” that is mostly scripted, supplemented by real-life situations, and unfolds during the US presidential elections, “because it was important to capture that air of uncertainty”, according to the filmmakers.

The $500K (budget) film wrapped up principal photography in Tallahassee, Florida in December, and is now in post-production. The project has already won a grant from the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

“’Life’ has a rhythm and tension that will also makes it commercial. The fact of filming in English and addressing relevant issues in a current U.S. context opens up the market for the film,” producer Hernandez Santos said.

“We are very proud to be working again with Pedro Hernandez Santos after our wonderful collaboration on ‘Magical Girl.’ We fully trust him to produce a striking second film from the acclaimed Antonio Mendez Esparza,” Films Distribution’s François Yon said in a statement.

No ETA at this time, but we would expect a 2017 premiere on the international film festival circuit.