El Lazo de Petra

Apple’s newest Shot on iPhone film transforms traditional Mexican stories into an epic Western-meets-video game adventure.

"El Lazo de Petra" is a mix of live action and pixel art that pays homage to the strength of Mexican women in a story told from grandmother to granddaughter, where the heroine Petra defeats creatures from traditional Mexican legends: La Llorona, El Coco (The Boogeyman), and the Chaneques (Aztec goblins).

The film leverages the cinematic features of iPhone 16 Pro, including cinematic slow motion, Action mode, Cinematic mode, and 5x optical zoom, along with the LiDAR Scanner to create a 16-bit video game aesthetic and immersive experience.

The 11-minute short film is directed by Vancouver-based Mexican filmmaker and actress Gigi Saul Guerrero a.k.a. “La Muñeca del Terror” (The horror doll), known for her unique approach to this movie genre. She also plays the role of one of the monsters, “La Llorona”.

Behind the 16-bit world is Halberd Studios, a Mexican indie gaming developer, known for creating world-class video games inspired by Mexican folklore. Using the camera, and LiDAR Scanner on iPhone 16 Pro, they obtained 3D and motion capture information from locations, props and characters to transform them into pixel art animations that are featured in the film in Petra’s epic battles, one of which is also a playable sequence that resembles the arcade video games from the 90s.

The campaign features director of photography Alexis Zabé and award-winning composer and producer Carl Thiel, who brought together elements from Spaghetti Western music and Mexican instruments to create a bespoke soundtrack for the film. The team also includes 21-year-old rising Mexican artist Irany Divad, who created a song for the film credits inspired by the story of "El Lazo de Petra” and the empowerment of Mexican women.

Following the success of previous Shot on iPhone campaigns in Mexico, “Huracán Ramírez & La Piñata Enchilada” (2023) and “¡Suerte!” (2024), this latest installment continues Apple's tradition of showcasing the creative possibilities of iPhone filmmaking with Mexican storytelling and talent.

The campaign will appear across digital, TV, streaming platforms, social media, and out-of-home advertising. The hero film will be supported by a behind-the-scenes video that demonstrates how the advanced camera features of iPhone 16 Pro can be used by creators to produce professional-quality films and streamline the video game development process, making high-end production techniques more accessible to filmmakers and game developers alike.