Blab Entertainment
Rodrigo Teixeiras RT Features Boards Argentine Sci-Fi Drama "Bodies of Summer"
In a world where death is merely a pause, not a final stop, Brazil‑based RT Features has announced it will both produce and fully finance the upcoming sci‑fi drama Bodies of Summer. The film is directed by Argentine filmmaker Iván Fund, who earned the 2025 Berlin Film Festival Silver Bear Jury Prize for The Message. Fund is adapting a screenplay he co‑wrote with Argentine novelist Martín Felipe Castagnet, based on Castagnet’s award‑winning novel Los cuerpos del verano.
Bodies of Summer is the third feature collaboration between Fund and Castagnet. Their partnership began with the 2021 Venice Days entry Dusk Stone and reached a new milestone in 2025 with The Message, which was acclaimed at Berlinale. Fund’s earlier work includes the 2010 Cannes Un Certain Regard film The Lips, co‑directed with Santiago Loza, and a string of socially focused narratives that have consistently earned international festival recognition.
The story unfolds in a near‑future landscape where consciousness can survive beyond bodily death. When a body’s resources are exhausted, its mind enters a digital limbo, awaiting rebirth in a new vessel. The protagonist, Rana, has spent a century as data before being resurrected in a makeshift body. In his new form, he discovers that his son, now an elderly man, has chosen to die naturally and disappear forever. According to the press release, the film is “an ambitious adaptation that blends speculative science fiction with an intimate exploration of family, mortality, and human connection.”
RT Features, founded in 2005, has earned a reputation for backing internationally oriented independent cinema. Producer Rodrigo Teixeira’s credits include the 2025 Oscar‑winning I’m Still Here, James Gray’s 2026 Cannes contender Paper Tiger, the Chilean drama La Perra (directors’ fortnight 2026), and the post‑production thriller Wolves. The company also co‑produced Zero K, Glaxo, and the Guatemalan thriller República Luminosa. In January 2026, RT Features celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of bridging U.S. independent cinema with global markets.
The announcement came just hours before Teixeira was scheduled to deliver a 90‑minute masterclass at Madrid’s ECAM Forum, the city’s newest co‑production forum. Running from June 9‑11, 2026, the third edition of the forum aims to bring producers, financiers, and filmmakers together to discuss co‑production opportunities. Industry observers note that the partnership with Fund and Castagnet signals RT Features’ continued focus on Latin‑American talent that has proven festival success. The film’s speculative premise also positions it for potential distribution on streaming platforms that are actively seeking genre‑blending content.
While no release date has been set, production is expected to begin later in 2026. Teixeira’s involvement in Bodies of Summer follows a career that has consistently bridged U.S. independent cinema and global markets. His earlier work on Frances Ha (2012), The Witch (2015), and Call Me by Your Name (2017) established him as a producer capable of delivering both critical acclaim and commercial viability. The upcoming film adds to a slate that includes Wolves and Glaxo, both of which are in various stages of post‑production.
In summary, RT Features’ commitment to Bodies of Summer expands the company’s portfolio of internationally oriented, festival‑ready projects. The film’s speculative narrative and focus on human themes align with current market trends for genre hybrids. With the ECAM Forum’s co‑production platform and Teixeira’s 20th‑anniversary milestone, the project is poised to attract additional financing and distribution partners. The next steps will likely involve securing international sales agreements and setting a production schedule, with a potential release window in late 2027.
Bodies of Summer is the third feature collaboration between Fund and Castagnet. Their partnership began with the 2021 Venice Days entry Dusk Stone and reached a new milestone in 2025 with The Message, which was acclaimed at Berlinale. Fund’s earlier work includes the 2010 Cannes Un Certain Regard film The Lips, co‑directed with Santiago Loza, and a string of socially focused narratives that have consistently earned international festival recognition.
The story unfolds in a near‑future landscape where consciousness can survive beyond bodily death. When a body’s resources are exhausted, its mind enters a digital limbo, awaiting rebirth in a new vessel. The protagonist, Rana, has spent a century as data before being resurrected in a makeshift body. In his new form, he discovers that his son, now an elderly man, has chosen to die naturally and disappear forever. According to the press release, the film is “an ambitious adaptation that blends speculative science fiction with an intimate exploration of family, mortality, and human connection.”
RT Features, founded in 2005, has earned a reputation for backing internationally oriented independent cinema. Producer Rodrigo Teixeira’s credits include the 2025 Oscar‑winning I’m Still Here, James Gray’s 2026 Cannes contender Paper Tiger, the Chilean drama La Perra (directors’ fortnight 2026), and the post‑production thriller Wolves. The company also co‑produced Zero K, Glaxo, and the Guatemalan thriller República Luminosa. In January 2026, RT Features celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of bridging U.S. independent cinema with global markets.
The announcement came just hours before Teixeira was scheduled to deliver a 90‑minute masterclass at Madrid’s ECAM Forum, the city’s newest co‑production forum. Running from June 9‑11, 2026, the third edition of the forum aims to bring producers, financiers, and filmmakers together to discuss co‑production opportunities. Industry observers note that the partnership with Fund and Castagnet signals RT Features’ continued focus on Latin‑American talent that has proven festival success. The film’s speculative premise also positions it for potential distribution on streaming platforms that are actively seeking genre‑blending content.
While no release date has been set, production is expected to begin later in 2026. Teixeira’s involvement in Bodies of Summer follows a career that has consistently bridged U.S. independent cinema and global markets. His earlier work on Frances Ha (2012), The Witch (2015), and Call Me by Your Name (2017) established him as a producer capable of delivering both critical acclaim and commercial viability. The upcoming film adds to a slate that includes Wolves and Glaxo, both of which are in various stages of post‑production.
In summary, RT Features’ commitment to Bodies of Summer expands the company’s portfolio of internationally oriented, festival‑ready projects. The film’s speculative narrative and focus on human themes align with current market trends for genre hybrids. With the ECAM Forum’s co‑production platform and Teixeira’s 20th‑anniversary milestone, the project is poised to attract additional financing and distribution partners. The next steps will likely involve securing international sales agreements and setting a production schedule, with a potential release window in late 2027.
