Inside Barrio Triste, the gritty debut film by Bad Bunny collaborator Stillz

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Set us as preferred Chances are you’ve seen the work of Matías Vásquez, but you’ve never seen his face.Better known by his pseudonym, Stillz, the multifaceted Colombian American artist has directed two dozen music videos for Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, including those for hit tracks “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” “Ojitos Lindos” and “Moscow Mule.”But while his collaborators — among them Rosalía, Katy Perry and Rauw Alejandro — live their lives in the spotlight, Stillz, 27, goes to great lengths to preserve his privacy.A bandanna covers his face for any public appearances, and if an interview isn’t happening in person, he avoids phone or video calls.Our exchange takes place over text messages.“Being around celebrities all the time makes me want to hide myself even more,” he says (or better said, types).

“It’s always been about the craft first for me.I started doing this very young, so I’ve seen how ego can kill someone inside out, even the most talented people.”Stillz prefers to “stick to the art,” and now he’s channeled the experience gained from working around the world into his bold and entrancing first feature “Barrio Triste,” now in theaters, which follows a group of marginalized young men in 1980s Medellín.

They commit crimes with recklessness and forge a brotherhood from shared rage and despair.“It’s very different from my commercial work,” he says.“On a feature film, I’m 100% in control and I can be more vulnerable.”American provocateur Harmony Korine (“Gummo,” “Spring Breakers”) served as executive producer through his EDGLRD company.“We weren’t looking for people who just wanted to make a very clean three-act drama or comedy, but people who really felt like they were working in the vernacular of the newer generation of storyte...