The Puerto Rican rapper, writer, and filmmaker René Pérez Joglar, known worldwide as Residente, returns to the Sundance Film Festival in 2026 with Frank & Louis, marking his second participation in the event as an actor. The project represents another step in the artist’s evolution towards acting, directing, and audiovisual production.
The film, directed by Petra Biondina Volpe in her feature film debut in English and written by Volpe along with Esther Bernstorff, is a drama centered on human stories within the prison system. Resident plays Julián, sharing the cast with Kingsley Ben-Adir, who embodies Frank, and Rob Morgan, who brings Louis to life, the protagonists of the story.
The plot follows Frank, a prisoner sentenced to life in prison who decides to take care of elderly inmates suffering from memory loss. What begins as an act motivated by personal convenience becomes a journey of transformation marked by redemption, dignity, and emotional connection in a ruthless prison environment.
Frank & Louis will have its world premiere on January 25, 2026, at the Sundance Film Festival. The film will be available for exhibition and ticket sales exclusively between January 25 and February 1 of that year. This return comes after Residente’s acclaimed acting debut in the film In the Summers, which won an award at Sundance 2024.
The artist’s participation in this new project is part of his creative transition process towards cinema, television, and directing. In addition to acting, Residente writes and develops audiovisual content that addresses cultural and Latinx narratives. He is also writing and directing his first large-scale feature film, Porto Rico, a historical drama about the Puerto Rican revolutionary past, along with Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris through his production company 1868 Studios.
Residente achieved international recognition as the vocalist of Calle 13, a group that fused Latin hip-hop, experimental sounds, and world music with strong social and political messages. Between his career in the band and as a soloist, he has won 34 Grammy and Latin Grammy awards, becoming the most awarded artist in history and consolidating his influence in music, film, and global Latin culture.
