Magenta Light Studios has announced it will release the powerful Salvadoran Civil War drama Fireflies at El Mozote in U.S. theaters on April 17, 2026. The film, written and directed by the late Ernesto Melara, tells the harrowing story of a young boy who survives the massacre of his village and embarks on a journey for justice amid the brutal conflict in 1980s El Salvador.
The drama stars Paz Vega alongside young actor Mateo Honles as the 10-year-old survivor at the center of the story. The cast also includes Juan Pablo Shuk (Narcos), Yancey Arias (Queen of the South), Jeff Fahey (Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1), and Mena Suvari (American Beauty).
Produced by Moctesuma Esparza (Selena), Elias Axume for Premiere Entertainment Group, and Bob Yari for Magenta Light Studios, the film aims to shed light on the devastating human cost of war. Before his passing, Melara dedicated the film to “the victims of war violence in El Salvador, and elsewhere throughout Latin America and the rest of the world.”
Magenta Light Studios CEO Bob Yari praised the film’s emotional impact, noting that the studio is proud to help bring Melara’s final work to audiences and honor the filmmaker’s legacy.
Fireflies at El Mozote will open in theaters nationwide on April 17, with simultaneous releases planned in major markets including Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, Chicago, and Houston.
The film’s release marks an important moment for a story rooted in real historical tragedy, bringing international attention to a chapter of history that continues to resonate today.
