MEXICO CITY.- A new documentary titled The Mural Painting of Teotihuacan. Beatriz de la Fuente Museum (2025) will delve into the iconography and history of mural painting from the ancient city of Teotihuacan. The film aims to disseminate knowledge about the pictographic expressions of this significant Mesoamerican civilization, focusing on the period before, during, and after the 1960s.

The 55-minute audiovisual project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico, through the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and the 1 production company Relatando Historias. It was directed by documentary filmmaker Rafael Morales Orozco, known for his previous work on The Tomb of the Red Queen of Palenque.

The documentary will explore the planning and significance of the Beatriz de la Fuente Museum in Teotihuacan, which was inaugurated in 2001 and houses a collection of 73 pieces, including mural fragments and other archaeological objects. Experts in anthropology, archaeology, art history, and administrative staff from the Teotihuacan Archaeological Zone (ZAT) will provide insights into the murals and their historical context.

According to director Rafael Morales Orozco, the documentary seeks to "decipher the worldview and life of the Teotihuacan people during the Classic period (150-650 AD), the time to which the mural paintings are dated, through the analysis of their iconography and the techniques used for their imprint." The film will also offer a comprehensive view of the museum's spaces and the work involved in its operation.

Jesús Torres Peralta, head of the ZAT's Department of Museums and Educational Communication, stated that the museum "crystallizes the effort of great researchers who, with their archaeological excavations, carried out since remote times, but mainly between 1950 and 1960, expanded the knowledge of the Teotihuacan culture." He further noted that the analysis of these murals, which depict themes related to nature, the city, deities, and more, is a complex task due to the time separating the creators and modern understanding of their codes.

The documentary will feature examples of significant murals, including the "Feathered Serpent of Zacuala" and the fragment known as "The Mythological Animals," illustrating the symbolic and aesthetic patterns of Teotihuacan art. It will also examine "El Tlalocan," a mural depicting the sacred mountain and its foundational significance in Mesoamerican culture.

Filming for the documentary took place between June 2024 and March 2025. It is scheduled to premiere on YouTube on Friday, April 18, 2025, and will be available for free viewing.