Best Foreign

by Francisco Mendoza

Argentinian filmmaker Fernando Calderón becomes Hollywood's latest darling after the release of his film Tooth For Tooth, set during the so-called "Dirty War," a dark period of Argentina's history marked by guerrilla warfare and state repression. When the movie gets a nomination for Best International Feature at the Oscars, Fernando embarks on the campaign trail... without realizing it's littered with bodies...

Argentinian filmmaker Fernando Calderón becomes Hollywood's latest darling after the release of his film Tooth For Tooth, set during the so-called "Dirty War," a dark period of Argentina's history marked by guerrilla warfare and state repression. When the movie gets a nomination for Best International Feature at the Oscars, Fernando embarks on the campaign trail... without realizing it's littered with bodies that won't stay buried for long.

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Best Foreign

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: Best Foreign by Francisco Mendoza
    “

    The community of National Committee readers for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced Best Foreign as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We leaned into the daring hinge between the first and second act, which pivots from uncomfortable mockumentary to Sarah Kane-esque extravagance. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in its journey towards production.

    The community of National Committee readers for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced Best Foreign as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We leaned into the daring hinge between the first and second act, which pivots from uncomfortable mockumentary to Sarah Kane-esque extravagance. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in its journey towards production.

    ”
FERNANDO, 30s
HENRY, over 60
API/VALENTINA/ANITA, 30s
CHELA (also called AUDIENCE MEMBER #3)/INÉS/ALICJA, 60s
THE GENERAL, 50
AUDIENCE MEMBERS #1-2

This play can be performed with 5 to 7 actors.

Doubling is already built in to some of the characters, as denoted by the slashes in their names. If doubling further:
- The actor playing Chela/Inés can play Audience Member #1
- The actor playing The General can play Audience Member #2

Development History

  • Residency, Garden State New Play Festival, 2025
  • Workshop, Global Forms Theater Festival | Rattlestick Theater, 2025
  • Reading, New York Theatre Workshop, 2024

Awards

  • BIPOC Playwright's Festival
    Boise Contemporary Theater
    Finalist
    2025
  • Local Lab 14
    Local Theater Company
    Semi-Finalist
    2025
  • Ojai Playwrights Conference
    Finalist
    2024