Rise of the Water Fox
Agnes (13) is struggling with turbulent emotions after her grandfather's death. Sent to volunteer at a retirement home, her journey unfolds as she searches for inner balance and acceptance.
Agnes (13) yells herself awake from a nightmare. It’s been three months since her grandfather Ragnar died, and since then, Agnes has found it hard to connect to the things she used to enjoy, like gymnastics practice, where Grandpa was her biggest cheerleader and supporter.
After getting into a fight with a classmate, Agnes' parents send her to volunteer at a retirement home. There, Agnes meets and befriends Harriet, a resident, a local hero, and a 34th-generation Viking who dreams of escaping to Iceland. Agnes is afraid of spending time with the elderly, and Harriet wants to avoid the “death row” support group that she is supposed to attend. So, Harriet comes up with a plan for her and Agnes to get away from those activities: they will teach martial arts to the other residents, even if it’s just imitating moves from films.
Agnes reluctantly agrees, and they begin training, growing closer to each other. Agnes promises to help Harriet reach Iceland, but what she doesn’t know is that her Sensei has been hiding the truth about her condition—she has only a couple of months left to live, and her planned trip to Iceland is a one-way ticket to Valhalla. Facing yet another impending loss, Agnes will have to put all her newly gained knowledge into practice. Although the training itself is fake, the obstacles they overcome on their journey are very real and Agnes will learn that much like in the Kung Fu films, she can only be responsible for her own balance and inner peace.
After getting into a fight with a classmate, Agnes' parents send her to volunteer at a retirement home. There, Agnes meets and befriends Harriet, a resident, a local hero, and a 34th-generation Viking who dreams of escaping to Iceland. Agnes is afraid of spending time with the elderly, and Harriet wants to avoid the “death row” support group that she is supposed to attend. So, Harriet comes up with a plan for her and Agnes to get away from those activities: they will teach martial arts to the other residents, even if it’s just imitating moves from films.
Agnes reluctantly agrees, and they begin training, growing closer to each other. Agnes promises to help Harriet reach Iceland, but what she doesn’t know is that her Sensei has been hiding the truth about her condition—she has only a couple of months left to live, and her planned trip to Iceland is a one-way ticket to Valhalla. Facing yet another impending loss, Agnes will have to put all her newly gained knowledge into practice. Although the training itself is fake, the obstacles they overcome on their journey are very real and Agnes will learn that much like in the Kung Fu films, she can only be responsible for her own balance and inner peace.
Directors statement
I remember the first deaths I experienced—the emptiness, anger, and sense of loss that I could not put into words. But seeing someone go through something similar in a film made it more comfortable to stare at that void. I understood that I was not alone.
Our film follows Agnes after the first major death in her life. Her grandfather has passed, and Agnes is trying to push her grief away. She feels out of control, which culminates in a fight after school. As punishment, Agnes is sent to volunteer at a retirement home, where she meets Harriet. Together, they embark on a journey of self-discovery through pretending to practice martial arts. This is a coming-of-age film for teens and their families relying on playfulness and fun, exploring how grief can affect us at an early age, and even if it doesn’t seem like it, there are ways to cope with it.
I grew up watching Jackie Chan and dreamed of being a Ninja Turtle. Eventually, I understood that I would not manage to become either, but I could make films that connected with that sensibility. It is in the balance of fun and intimacy that we can deal with grief. Now I want to mix the sense of acceptance that I wish I had at 16, when my best friend passed away, with the joy and excitement of crafting a martial arts comedy, because just like in real life, you can’t have light without dark. The trick lies in keeping them in balance, one breath at a time.
Our film follows Agnes after the first major death in her life. Her grandfather has passed, and Agnes is trying to push her grief away. She feels out of control, which culminates in a fight after school. As punishment, Agnes is sent to volunteer at a retirement home, where she meets Harriet. Together, they embark on a journey of self-discovery through pretending to practice martial arts. This is a coming-of-age film for teens and their families relying on playfulness and fun, exploring how grief can affect us at an early age, and even if it doesn’t seem like it, there are ways to cope with it.
I grew up watching Jackie Chan and dreamed of being a Ninja Turtle. Eventually, I understood that I would not manage to become either, but I could make films that connected with that sensibility. It is in the balance of fun and intimacy that we can deal with grief. Now I want to mix the sense of acceptance that I wish I had at 16, when my best friend passed away, with the joy and excitement of crafting a martial arts comedy, because just like in real life, you can’t have light without dark. The trick lies in keeping them in balance, one breath at a time.
CARLOS E. LESMES (1987) is a Colombian film director living and working in Estonia. His debut feature documentary A Loss of Something Ever Felt premiered at Hot Docs in 2020, was theatrically released in both Estonia and Colombia and received several awards, including the Documentary of the Year award from the Estonian Cultural Endowment.
Carlos is currently pursuing a PhD degree at Tallinn University, developing his first fiction feature Rise of the Water Fox and in production with his second feature documentary Threads of my Ancestors.
He is interested in people, comic books and particle physics, but mostly in how to tie it all together and tell stories about the experience of being a human, which has propelled him to make films in different genres and styles. His short films have travelled to Fantasia, PÖFF Shorts, Bogoshorts and many other international festivals.
Carlos is currently pursuing a PhD degree at Tallinn University, developing his first fiction feature Rise of the Water Fox and in production with his second feature documentary Threads of my Ancestors.
He is interested in people, comic books and particle physics, but mostly in how to tie it all together and tell stories about the experience of being a human, which has propelled him to make films in different genres and styles. His short films have travelled to Fantasia, PÖFF Shorts, Bogoshorts and many other international festivals.
- DirectorCarlos E. Lesmes
- ProducerJohanna Maria Paulson
- ScreenwritersCarlos E. Lesmes, Elisabeth Kužovnik
- Production countryEstonia
- Production companyStellar Film
- Age10+
- Duration90 min
- GenresComing-of-Age, Adventure, Comedy
- TypeLive-action
- Year2025
- Spoken languagesEstonian, Spanish
- Total budget€1,125,000
- Financing in place€135,000
Contact persons
Company profile
Stellar Film is one of the leading production companies in Estonia, established in 2015 and run by Evelin Penttilä and Johanna Maria Paulson. The filmography ranges from short and feature-length fiction films to documentaries and TV series, all of which share a common goal of telling encouraging and inspiring stories, blending genres, and pushing boundaries.
Previous titles include Sauna Day by Anna Hints & Tushar Prakash (2024, Cannes Semaine de la Critique, TIFF), Miia Tervo's The Missile (2024, Göteborg), The Sleeping Beast (2022, Giffoni, Schlingel) and Christmas in the Jungle (2020, Giffoni) by Jaak Kilmi, Maria’s Paradise by Zaida Bergroth (2019, TIFF), and Oskar Lehemaa's Bad Hair (2019, Sundance, Fantasia, Fantastic Fest).
Stellar is committed to creating films that not only excel artistically but also resonate deeply with international audiences and contribute to a more thoughtful, inclusive, and sustainable future.
Previous titles include Sauna Day by Anna Hints & Tushar Prakash (2024, Cannes Semaine de la Critique, TIFF), Miia Tervo's The Missile (2024, Göteborg), The Sleeping Beast (2022, Giffoni, Schlingel) and Christmas in the Jungle (2020, Giffoni) by Jaak Kilmi, Maria’s Paradise by Zaida Bergroth (2019, TIFF), and Oskar Lehemaa's Bad Hair (2019, Sundance, Fantasia, Fantastic Fest).
Stellar is committed to creating films that not only excel artistically but also resonate deeply with international audiences and contribute to a more thoughtful, inclusive, and sustainable future.
We are seeking for a co-producer for approx. 10-20% of the budget, as well as world sales and distribution. We're open to exploring fresh co-production structures to elevate the project and welcome discussions on key creative inputs like post-production, music composition, and secondary roles.
Goals at JCM
Representatives at JCM and contact details
Carlos E. Lesmes
lesmesdoc@gmail.com