Claudia Pineda
Felipe de Lara
Alan Morán
Fermín Martínez

Robyn Symon is a two-time Emmy-winning filmmaker and former PBS senior producer/director whose work spans documentary television and independent film. QUEEN OF SHOCK, which she wrote, directed and edited, marks her narrative feature directorial debut.

Symon’s documentaries include DO NO HARM, an examination of physician suicide and the culture of medicine; TRANSFORMATION: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF WERNER ERHARD; BEHIND THE BLUE VEIL; and UNCLE GLORIA: ONE HELLUVA RIDE. Her television work includes producing and directing programming for PBS and other national outlets.

She also wrote and directed the narrative feature THE 7TH CHAKRA; a murder mystery set at a remote yoga retreat now in Postproduction. Symon serves as Works in Progress Chair for the Alliance of Women Directors.

I first became interested in “toques” when I considered making a documentary about this Mexican tradition. I was fascinated by the combination of spectacle, endurance and bravado.

But as I explored the idea, I began imagining a different story: What would happen if a woman entered this traditionally male arena — not for entertainment, but because she desperately needed the money? 

That became the heart of QUEEN OF SHOCK for me. The electricity is visceral and cinematic, but the story is ultimately about a mother’s determination to save her child and what happens when a woman who has continually been underestimated discovers her own strength. Beneath the shocks, danger and spectacle is a simple human question: How much would you endure for someone you love?

Claudia Pineda

is a Mexican actress who worked in film and TV for more than 15 years. She became known for her role as Silvia in Apple TVs fugitive thriller show THE MOSQUITO COAST and as Paola in WOMEN IN BLUE. She also stars in the Netflix Original QUEENS ON THE RUN.

Felipe de Lara

was born in Mexico and studied acting in Vancouver and New York. He debuted in 2007 with a small part in the horror sequel SPECIES IV and went on to work in many Mexican and American productions, in the last years most notably in the cult horror V/H/S/85 and in the Blumhouse TV show INTO THE DARK.

Alan Morán

is a Mexican-Spanish actor born in Mexico City. He is best known for his work on the acclaimed series NARCOS: MEXICO. His career spans film and television productions, where he has portrayed a diverse range of characters in both national and international projects.

Fermín Martínez

works in Mexican film and TV since the early 2000s, with many TV series under his belt, being known best for his roles as El Azul in NARCOS: MEXICO and Honorio González in ETERNAMENTE AMÁNDONOS. One of his latest films, the drama SOY MARIO, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

Writer, Director & Editor - Robyn Symon
Producer -  Chaz Bernal
Director of Photography - Guillermo Herrera
Production Design - Alex Ayala
Casting - Luis Rosales
Music - Juan Carlos Enriquez                                                                                                      
Costume Design - Beaumaris Eilean Santillan Aldana