Period Series Coolie, Starring Mauricio Henao, to Premiere at the Miami Film Festival

Colombian actor Mauricio Henao stars in Coolie (8×50’), a 19th-century-set series filmed in English, which will premiere at the Miami Film Festival, taking place from Thursday the 9th through Sunday the 19th.

Created and produced by Meileen Choo of Cathay Film Company, who also serves as showrunner, Coolie offers an innovative look at multiple forms of slavery—not only physical, but also social—framing a story of impossible love between cultures within a complex historical context.

Mauricio Henao and Louise Wong

This international project marks a key step in the series’ global trajectory, as it is a production conceived for international audiences, with storytelling and execution in English, significantly expanding its reach in the global market.

Coolie is a historical drama that transports viewers to the 1860s, exploring the little-known story of Chinese laborers brought to Cuba during the plantation era. The series blends romance, social conflict, and a powerful narrative about identity, power, and human resilience.

Direction is led by Arvin Chen, known for his work on international productions such as Pachinko, alongside cinematographer Gary Shaw.

MAURICIO HENAO TAKES ON A COMPLEX ROLE

In Coolie, Henao takes on one of the most complex roles of his career, starring in an international English-language series and expanding his reach to new global audiences. He portrays a character immersed in a historical context filled with social tensions, moral dilemmas, and deep emotions.

Mauricio Henao

“Coolie is a story that deeply moved me. Not only because of the historical context it portrays about Chinese immigration to Cuba in the 19th century, but also because of its universal message about love, identity, and the struggle for freedom. It’s a project that invites reflection and will undoubtedly surprise audiences with its narrative and visual strength. Telling it in English allows this message to reach a much broader global audience,” he said.

Henao has appeared in successful productions for companies such as Netflix, Telemundo, and TelevisaUnivision. Among his most recent projects are Perfil Falso (Fake Profile), La Jefa, and he is currently filming El Renacer de Luna, a new TelevisaUnivision telenovela in which he plays the antagonist.

A PRODUCTION WITH GLOBAL REACH

Coolie stands out for its high production value, multicultural narrative, and its ability to shed light on a part of history that has rarely been portrayed on screen.

Its premiere at the Miami Film Festival represents a key step in positioning the series in the international market, opening the door to global distribution.

The series features an international cast

INTERNATIONAL CAST

The series features a notable global cast led by:

-Mauricio Henao (Colombia), lead actor

-Louise Wong (Hong Kong), award-winning actress and Hong Kong Film Award winner

-Joseph Chang (Taiwan), prominent figure in Asian cinema

-Camila Arteche (Cuba), film and TV actress

– Sian Chiong (Cuba), actor and singer

-Daniel Grao (Spain), known for work with Netflix and Apple TV

-Pedro Fontaine, Best Actor winner at the Ibero-American Film Festival of Huelva

A scene of Coolie