The Beast Is Not to Blame

The Beast Is Not to Blame is Luis Diego Pérez's debut feature film, currently in development following its recent film residency award at the Desde El Centro showcase during the Costa Rica Media Market in July 2026. The queer coming-of-age drama centers on nine-year-old Iván, whose preparations for his First Communion are upended when his best friend—with whom he shared a secret bond through magical moments in the Costa Rican forest—suddenly moves away. Unable to confide in others about the nature of their relationship, Iván must navigate the pain of loss alone. The project is a co-production between Costa Rica's Páramo Films and Dos de Patos, with Panamá's Expansiva Cine serving as co-developer. Páramo Films was founded in 2025 by Pérez himself, with a mission to develop young Costa Rican cinema voices with global resonance. Producer Paula Vázquez of Dos de Patos has joined to help structure the production and bring Pérez's vision to life.