Mixtape
Puerto Rico // 2021 // Narrative // LOS FEATURES
PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE
Mixtape tells the story of Sammy, a talented musician who, after living in New York, returns to live in Puerto Rico when his parents separate. Now the 'new boy in school' he is immediately tormented by Jonathan (Adan Allende), the school bully. Sammy also falls in love with Karla (Didi Romero), one of the prettiest girls in the school, but he is too shy to express his feelings. With the help of Miguel (Wilfred Morales) the school custodian who is also an 'old school DJ', they create a 'mix' of urban genre songs with subliminal manipulative messages–all with the intention of grabbing Karla's attention. However, the mixtape is such a hit that it goes viral on campus and the whole school falls in love with Sammy. Now he has to undo the mess right away before he risks losing Karla's affections.
Director: Benji Lopez
Producer: Yamara Rodríguez, Rafael Abudo Massó
Comedy / Drama / Romance
Suitable for all ages
English (subtitles available)
114 minutes
Only available to audiences outside of Puerto Rico.
BENJI LOPEZ was born in East Chicago, Indiana on June 16, 1974, where he spent the first six years of his life until moving to Comerio, Puerto Rico, his father’s hometown, with his mother and brother. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Communications with a concentration in Media Production at the University, he gained practical experience as an audiovisual technician at the audiovisual rental company Stage Crew, Inc.
Lopez went on to amass a significant portfolio directing television commercials and music videos and in 2004, he launched the Puerto Rican based production company Innova Entertainment with his business partner Eduardo Correa. Soon after releasing Tainos, Lopez further showcased his directorial prowess and genre shifting ability by making the wildly successful trilogy, “Mi Verano con Amanda”, the first comedy franchise in Puerto Rico. The groundbreaking film earned three wins at the 2009 Rincon Film Festival including Best Local Movie, Best Actress and Best Director.
In 2013, he premiered his 4th full-feature film, “¿Quién Paga la Cuenta?” The dramedy, set in Honduras, immediately became one of the Top 10 highest grossing films in Central America and still holds the record as the highest grossing local film in Honduras. Lopez’s films can be seen in popular streaming services such as Amazon, Flix Latino and TV Networks like Cinelatino and Viendomovies.
His latest, the romantic comedy “Amor en 266 Millas”, just completed post-production. It explores themes of divorce, starting anew and pursuing one’s passions. Lopez also directed his first English feature, “Mixtape”, a coming of age story geared towards teens. Both films are slated for release in the coming months. With a new slate of movies written and set to film in 2022, Lopez is setting the stage for a massive impact on the mainstream landscape. He’s looking forward to showcasing his work to new audiences far and wide, and is open to exploring new and exciting opportunities in the business.