The River Train
| The River Train | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Spanish | El Tren Fluvial |
| Directed by | Lorenzo Ferro Lucas A. Vignale |
| Written by | Lorenzo Ferro Lucas A. Vignale |
| Produced by | Tomás Grandio Valentine Torre Casiana Vera |
| Starring | Milo Barria Rita Pauls Mariano Barria Lucrecia Pazos Mailén Barria Fabián Casas |
| Cinematography | Thomas Gringberg |
| Edited by | Andres Medina Lucas A. Vignale |
Production companies | Cinco Rayos Primo (co-production) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 75 minutes |
| Country | Argentina |
| Language | Spanish |
The River Train (Spanish: El tren fluvial ) is a 2026 Argentine coming-of-age drama film directed by Lorenzo Ferro and Lucas A. Vignale. The film stars Milo Barría, alongside Rita Pauls, Mariano Barría, Fabián Casas, and Lucrecia Pazos. It follows a nine-year-old boy living in a rural Argentine village who dreams of escaping to the city of Buenos Aires by train.[1]
The film had its world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 16 February 2026, where it screened in the Perspectives section, a program dedicated to debut feature films. It was produced by Tomás Grandio, Valentine Torre, and Casiana Vera for the Argentine production company Cinco Rayos. The film was later screened in the United States at New Directors/New Films Festival on 13 April 2026.[2]
This would turn out to be Vignale's only feature film, as he died in a helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 14 June 2026.[3]
Premise
[edit]In a remote riverside village in northern Argentina, a nine-year-old boy, Milo, who practices malambo under his father's supervision, leaves home in northern Argentina and journeys to Buenos Aires, encountering situations that influence his outlook on life.[4][5]
Cast
[edit]- Milo Barría as Milo
- Mariano Barria as Mariano
- Rita Pauls as Profesora
- Lucrecia Pazos as Lucrecia
- Fabián Casas
Credits adapted from ScreenAnarchy.[6][7]
Production
[edit]The River Train was written and directed by Argentine filmmakers Lorenzo Ferro and Lucas A. Vignale in their feature film directorial debuts. The film was produced by Cinco Rayos, and co‑produced by Primo Content. Principal photography was held in Argentina, including in Buenos Aires, Tandil, and along the General Guido‑Divisadero de Pinamar railway line.[7][6]
Release
[edit]The film had its world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 16 February 2026, as part of the Perspectives section, which highlights debut and emerging filmmakers.[8] On 13 April 2026, it was screened in the United States at New Directors/New Films Festival.[2]
Reception
[edit]As of March 2026, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes lists five critic reviews for the film, all of which are positive.[9] Nadia Dalimonte described the film as "an incredibly singular feature film debut" and "a quietly adventurous portrait of boyhood".[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Luxbox Acquires The River Train, by Lorenzo Ferro and Lucas Vignale, Set to Compete at the Berlinale – Caligari". Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ^ a b "The River Train". Film at Lincoln Center. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
- ^ Nicolas, Aline (14 June 2026). "Muere Lucas Vignale, director de Bizarrap y J Balvin, en choque de helicópteros donde también murieron Oliver Tree y Gaspi". El Heraldo de México (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ^ "El Tren Fluvial | The River Train | Berlinale". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ Bach, Lida (2026-03-01). "The River Train ★★★". Cineccentric. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ a b "Berlinale 2026: Exclusive THE RIVER TRAIN Poster Premiere". ScreenAnarchy. 2026-02-04. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ a b "Berlin 2026: Screen's guide to the Perspectives titles". Screen. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ Szalai, Georg (2026-02-14). "'The River Train' Directors on Their Contemplative Argentinian Coming-of-Age Tale (Exclusive Berlin Trailer)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
- ^ "The River Train | Audience Reviews | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ^ Dalimonte, Nadia (2026-02-16). ""THE RIVER TRAIN" - Review". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
