Joaquín Peñagaricano and Pablo Abdala Richero trained at the Uruguayan Film School. Together they co-directed the short films La Velocidad de los Ceibos (2006), co-directed with Pablo Aguirrezabal, and Nuestra Hospitalidad (2010), which received awards in many film festivals. They have also made the documentary series Nosotros (2013), Nosotros Dos (2015), Un Pueblo al Solís (2011) and Fiestas Tradicionales (2014). Mateína is their feature debut.
