Naman Shrestha
Adapted from the eponymous novel written by Niccolò Ammaniti, Netflix’s ‘I’m Not Afraid,’ originally titled ‘No Tengo Miedo,’ centers on the coming-of-age story of an innocent 10-year-old boy named Miguel, who leads a content and quiet life in a rural village in Veracruz, Mexico. During the summer of 1986, his life turns upside down when he finds another boy, Felipe, trapped at the bottom of a secret hole near his family home.
Initially, Miguel thinks that Felipe is a ghost or a spirit. But as their friendship blossoms, Miguel uncovers a dark truth that changes his perspective on life and the adults around him. He learns that Felipe is being held captive by people whom he thought he knew. The Mexican period drama series explores the harsh realities of life, such as survival, childhood innocence, and family secrets, through the lens of Miguel, with the remote rural Mexican town serving as the ideal backdrop for the narrative.
I’m Not Afraid Filming Locations
‘I’m Not Afraid’ is filmed entirely in Mexico, especially in Veracruz. From what we can tell, principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the drama series commenced in early June 2025 and ran for approximately 3 months before wrapping in September of the same year. One of the leading cast members, Luis Alberti, took to social media to announce the end of the shooting process, while sharing a few words of gratitude. He stated, “End of shooting of #NoTengoMiedo; a complex, tragic and endearing story, impeccably made with so much love, by a team that wasted talent professionalism and commitment in each of the creative and production departments.
Infinite Thanks!”
Veracruz, Mexico
Since the dramatic tale of ‘I’m Not Afraid’ unfolds in a small village in Veracruz, it is only natural for the production team to set up camp on location to add a layer of authenticity to the narrative. As the primary production location, the state of Veracruz welcomed the cast and crew to multiple cities and areas, allowing them to tape pivotal sequences. For instance, many of the important village scenes were shot in the municipality of Emiliano Zapata, which is named after the eponymous hero of the Mexican Revolution. The picturesque, mountainous, lush-green terrain of the city of Teocelo also features prominently in several key portions of the Mexican series.
Bordering Teocelo is the municipality of Coatepec, another prominent production location where the filming unit shot important scenes. In addition, during the shooting process, the cast and crew were also seemingly spotted recording various sequences in the capital city of Veracruz — Xalapa. Furthermore, the cities of Las Vigas de Ramírez and Xico hosted the production of ‘I’m Not Afraid’ as well. Other notable movies and TV shows filmed in Veracruz include ‘Before Night Falls,’ ‘The Empty Hours,’ ‘Clear and Present Danger,’ ‘Collateral Damage,’ ‘The Crime of Padre Amaro,’ ‘No One Writes to the Colonel,’ ‘In the Time of the Butterflies,’ ‘The Tempest,’ and ‘Embrace Me Tightly.’
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