While making a coming-of-age documentary about the life of a young trans girl from Mexico was always about representation for Mexican trans filmmaker Kani Lapuerta, he also knew the way Niñxs would be covered in the media would be just as important. Lapuerta wanted to shape how audiences connected with his subject and ensure the conversation went beyond visibility to foster genuine empathy and belonging.
Niñxs tells the story of Karla Bañuelos and her journey of self-discovery from the small town of Tepoztlán, Mexico. Lapuerta made sure the exploration of Bañuelos’ transgender identity was met with the respect it deserved by also releasing a “Guide for the Communication of Trans Stories.”
The guidebook was designed to provide an ethical framework for trans stories and emphasized that trans narratives should focus on the person’s agency rather than framing them as a subject of trauma or “otherness.” It also included a glossary with key terms like transgender, cisgender, gender affirmation and an “anti-glossary” of expressions that should be avoided, such as “born in the wrong body” or “sex change.”
“We’ve had very bad experiences with journalists in other spaces because of ignorance and not knowing about the topic and asking the wrong questions,” Lapuerta told Remezcla during a recent interview. “We thought it was very important to take care of all these aspects because we have made this film with a lot of care and love from the very beginning.”
With all these tools in hand, Lapuerta knew Bañuelos’ story would be covered in the most meaningful ways. His goal was to tell it with a joyful approach rather than focus on any pain or tragedy, which is what most trans films tend to do these days.
“We were convinced that doing it like this would create other possibilities,” Lapuerta said. “We wanted to make a film [someone] could watch and see that a trans person is much more than just trans. They can have expectations, hobbies, [and] friends. We really believe in the power of narratives and changing these narratives when necessary.”
Lapuerta started filming Bañuelos when she was seven years old. His artistic approach to tell her story over the last eight years was to build a documentary of record “in an observational tone of Karla’s daily life,” which included many of her TikTok videos. He also wanted to “construct … metadocumentary moments” where Lapuerta and Bañuelos collaboratively shaped the story.
“We wanted the film to challenge the limits between documentary and fiction,” Lapuerta said. “We wanted to reenact some of Karla’s imagination [and] somehow fulfill her expectations.”
In some of the most effective scenes in Niñxs, Lapuerta shoots Bañuelos and himself in what they refer to as the “cocoon,” a place designed as a dreamlike “safe space” for the duo to have candid conversations about Bañuelos’ search for her identity. Lapuerta said allowing audiences to hear these intimate discussions gives them a better understanding of her “inner world.”
“It was like a butterfly cocoon where we would talk about the film,” Lapuerta said. “It was very magical. The ambience we created made Karla feel so comfortable and say such strong and powerful things. I felt that she relaxed a lot, and she let herself talk about very deep topics that in other moments, she wasn’t comfortable to talk about.”
This kind of collaboration between Lapuerta and Bañuelos also guided them to talking about their own favorite cinematic memories, which Lapuerta decided to incorporate into the film. In one scene, for example, Bañuelos imagines herself becoming aggressive like the characters in one of her favorite films, the 2004 comedy Mean Girls.
“Over the years, Karla became more and more active in the creative process and in the script,” Lapuerta said. “She started to understand the other layers of filmmaking. It was very important to not only have her voice in the film but also have her thoughts and dreams.”
So, could Lapuerta envision returning in a couple of decades to make another documentary with Bañuelos about life as a trans woman during adulthood?
“At screenings, they’ve said, ‘You should make a part two for the film,” and Karla is like, ‘Oh, my God, leave me alone please!’ Lapuerta said laughing. “She has enjoyed the process, but she wants to start her life now. But maybe we’ll make Abuelxs one day.”
Niñxs will have its next streaming July 17. Learn more here.
