The Dog Thief


The Dog Thief is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Vinko Tomičić in his directorial debut. It stars Franklin Aro and Alfredo Castro. It follows a poor young orphan who steals the dog of his best client who sees him as a father figure.
A co-production between Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, France and Italy, the film had its world premiere at the 23rd Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, 2024.

Synopsis

Martín is a young orphan who survives by working as a shoeshine boy in La Paz while facing discrimination and poverty. His relationship with a lonely tailor leads him to steal his client's dog, whom he has begun to imagine as his possible father.

Cast

  • Franklin Aro as Martin
  • Alfredo Castro as Mr. Novoa
  • María Luque as Gladys
  • Julio César Altamirano as El Sombras
  • Ninon Davalos as Mrs. Ambrosia
  • Teresa Ruiz as Mrs. Andrea
  • Kleber Aro Huasco as El Monedas
  • Vladimir Gonza Mamani as El Conejo
  • Jhoselyn Rosmery Cosme as Alicia
  • Wolframio Sinué as Billar
  • Felix Francisco Omonte Vargas as High School Principal
  • Iván Cori Mamani as Teacher
  • Raúl Montecinos Heredia as Processor

Release

The Dog Thief had its world premiere on June 6, 2024, at the 23rd Tribeca Film Festival, then screened on June 12, 2024, at the 39th [Guadalajara International Film Festival], on June 22, 2024, at the 12th Costa Rica International Film Festival, on July 1, 2024, at the 41st Filmfest München, on August 11, 2024, at the 28th Lima Film Festival, on November 27, 2024, at the 39th Mar del Plata International Film Festival, on December 14, 2025, at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala, on March 17, 2025, at the 28th Málaga Film Festival, on March 31, 2025, at the 64th Cartagena Film Festival, on April 8, 2025, at the Festival cinéma du monde de Sherbrooke, on April 9, 2025, at the 41st Chicago Latino Film Festival, and on May 24, 2025, at the 12th Latin American Film Festival.
The film was released commercially on August 29, 2024, in Chilean theaters, on October 17, 2024, in Bolivian theaters, on May 15, 2025, in Costa Rican theaters, and on August 14, 2025, in Ecuadorian theaters.