Summer White (Blanco de verano), the debut fiction film by writer-director Rodrigo Ruiz Patterson, will have its world premiere as part of the World Cinema Dramatic competition at the 2020 edition of the Sundance Film Festival, taking place January 23 – February 2 in Park City, Utah.

An outstanding and compelling coming-of-age psychological drama, Summer White tells the story of 13-year-old Rodrigo (played with bravado by newcomer Adrián Rossi), a solitary teenager who finds solace in his intimate relationship with his mother, Valeria (Sophie Alexander-Katz). She is his best friend, his protector, and his entire world. When her new boyfriend comes to live in their small house on the outskirts of Mexico City, however, Rodrigo finds his domain completely disrupted. He must decide if he should accept his new family or fight back and hurt the person he loves most.

Summer White, the title taken from a tone of paint used to redecorate the protagonists’ house, is the latest production from the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (CCC)’s cherished Opera Prima program, which has launched the film career of noted Mexican filmmakers such as Jorge Michel Grau (We Are What We Are), David Pablos (The Life After) and Tatiana Huezo (The Tiniest Place).

An assured debut feature fueled by powerful performances from the ensemble cast, Summer White heralds the arrival of Ruiz Patterson as a new and distinctive voice in Mexican independent cinema.