ADRI MENDEZ: A VISUAL STORYTELLER REDIFINING INDEPENDENT CINEMA
When Costa Rican filmmaker Adri Mendez stepped into the world of cinema, she carried with her a mosaic of artistic disciplines: sculpture, graphic design, motion graphics, and acting. Now based in Prague, she has woven these strands into a distinct directorial vision that is both visually refined and narratively daring. Her debut short film, Echoes of Delusion, released on August 30, 2025, marks the formal arrival of a new voice in independent filmmaking - one that thrives at the intersection of bold aesthetics and emotional complexity.
February 2025, where it was contextualized not only as a cinematic work but as part of a multidisciplinary evening. At its private premiere in February, Echoes of Delusion unfolded as more than a film screening. Musical and theater performances, together with an exhibition by female creatives, transformed the evening into a cultural gathering - an expression of Mendez’s belief that cinema belongs within a wider creative dialogue. For her, Méndez Co. Productions is not only a production house but a collaborative stage, designed to amplify talent and foster artistic community.
At the heart of the program, Echoes of Delusion probes the female psyche and the fragile architectures of idealized relationships. Blending dramatic and comedic tropes, the film resists conventional storytelling and mirrors the contradictions of intimacy. For Mendez, genre is not a boundary but a language to bend in pursuit of emotional truth. "My heart for Méndez Co. Productions is focused on building a supportive and creative platform for the people around me to showcase and grow their talents," she explains, a vision that guided both the premiere and the film itself.
“I still get incredibly inspired by architecture, graphic design, and visual arts, and I implement as much as I can of them into my projects.”
Mendez’s path to filmmaking was never linear - originally immersed in sculpture and later trained in graphic design, she carried forward a sharp sensitivity to form, color, and composition. Her design practice led her to branding and animation, and by the age of 21, she was directing a studio team serving international clients.
But acting - and the realization that she could merge her design sensibilities with storytelling - eventually shifted her trajectory toward film. In 2023, she co-directed her first short, Not Just a Sister, with Wendy Rosas, an experience that confirmed cinema as her artistic home. "I had to make the difficult decision to let go of my Méndez Co. Studio team and clients, and we rebranded as Méndez Co. Productions," Mendez recalls. "I still get incredibly inspired by architecture, graphic design, and visual arts, and I implement as much as I can of them into my projects."
Mendez thrives in the collaborative nature of film. Beyond directing, she has produced and acted in numerous projects, often stepping into multiple roles. She cites her recent work on a spec commercial for ClearPark, created for the MusicBed Filmmaking Challenge, as an example of how she relishes supporting another creator’s vision. "Being able to use my talents as a producer to build up someone’s creativity and support their vision is something I really enjoy," she says. For her, collaboration is not only process but ethos. The collective spirit behind Méndez Co. Productions echoes her broader ambition: to foster environments where ideas expand and unexpected connections form.
“Being able to use my talents as a producer to build up someone’s creativity and support their vision is something I really enjoy.”
Though her debut has just entered the public eye, Mendez is already looking ahead. She is developing Exogenous, a documentary examining the nuances of migration and the often-unspoken divide between those labeled “expats” versus “immigrants.” Scheduled to go into production in 2026, the project reflects her sensitivity to questions of identity, privilege, and belonging - topics informed by her own upbringing across Costa Rica, Cyprus, Kenya, and the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, as an actress, her screen presence continues to grow. Mendez has appeared in more than 15 commercials for global brands and is set to feature in upcoming series including Disney+’s City of Blood and Prime Video’s Blade Runner 2099. Her dual perspective, on both sides of the camera, gives her work a rare intimacy and awareness of craft.
Ultimately, Mendez’s artistic journey is one of weaving together disciplines, geographies, and voices. Her ambition is not only to tell stories that resonate but to spark conversations that matter. "My greatest ambition with my filmmaking work is to tell stories that will make an impact on our audiences and will open up important conversations in our communities," she affirms. "Also, I want Méndez Co. Productions to be a platform for others to grow and expand in their fields."
With Echoes of Delusion now out in the world, Adri Mendez’s trajectory feels like the start of something enduring - a filmmaker whose creative intersections will continue to reverberate across screens, communities, and collaborations.
Follow Adri’s work on Instagram at @mendezco.productions and stay tuned for future features of Creative Intersect at @thecreativeintersect.
