“I know these are difficult times. There is terror around the world. Making movies is complicated. But I prefer to focus on what can be done, on what has been accomplished, rather than on what could not be done,” Douek says.
The founder of the Hola México Film Festival has spent nearly two decades bringing Mexican filmmakers, stories and new voices to audiences in Los Angeles.
Samuel Douek grew up watching movies. As a child in Mexico City, he remembers his father taking him to see Star Wars, an experience that sparked a passion for cinema that would stay with him for the rest of his life.
“I must have been four or five years old. It didn’t feel like a simple movie screening. It felt like a concert was about to take place. From that moment on, I kept watching movies. I would go out on weekends to see films. Cinema became part of my culture,” says Douek, the Mexican founder and director of the Hola México Film Festival.
Eighteen years later, that childhood fascination has become one of the most important showcases of Mexican cinema outside Mexico.
For Douek, the festival offers audiences an opportunity to discover what Mexican filmmakers are creating today. The program focuses largely on recent productions and films making their debut with new audiences.
“We see around 200 films and select about twenty. We bring excellent productions every year. Over the years, countless stories have emerged from this festival that have helped filmmakers move forward in their careers,” he says.
Born in Mexico, Douek eventually moved to Australia, where he noticed that Mexican films were difficult to find. Instead of accepting that reality, he decided to create something that could give Mexican filmmakers a larger international audience.
That idea became the Hola México Film Festival.
Douek launched the festival in Sydney in 2006 and later brought it to the United States. In 2008, Hola México made its American debut in New York before eventually establishing itself in Los Angeles.
What began as a personal passion grew into a major celebration of Mexican cinema outside Mexico.
For Douek, the goal was always about more than showing movies. It was about allowing audiences to see Mexico through Mexican eyes.
Mexican filmmakers tell stories about family, identity, immigration, love, history, social issues and everyday life. By bringing those stories to American audiences, Douek has spent nearly two decades building a cultural bridge between Mexico and the United States.
The 2026 Hola México Film Festival
That mission continues in 2026.
The 18th Annual Hola México Film Festival takes place in Los Angeles from September 25 through October 3 during Hispanic Heritage Month.
This year’s program presents a wide range of Mexican stories and perspectives, reflecting a country whose cinema continues to evolve and challenge audiences.
“I find it difficult to recommend films at random. I would recommend different movies depending on each person’s interests,” Douek says.
“If you’re interested in social issues, I would recommend Llamarse Olimpia, which addresses gender based violence. El Conserje is an excellent film about a school custodian and shows that racial prejudice still exists. Sobriedad, me estás matando deals with alcoholism. There is something for everyone. We have horror films and more than twenty different stories.”
Among the films featured in this year’s selection is Juana, a film that explores journalism, power, corruption, and the consequences of confronting uncomfortable truths.
Its inclusion reflects the increasingly complex stories Mexican filmmakers tell today.
For decades, international audiences often encountered Mexico through familiar images of colorful traditions, beautiful landscapes, family, food and music.
Those stories are important, but they represent only one part of the country. They allow filmmakers to examine the realities, tensions and challenges shaping contemporary Mexican society.
That is one reason Hola México matters.
The festival does not tell audiences what Mexico is.
It allows Mexican filmmakers to tell their own stories.
The 2026 program also includes Loco México Mágico, a comedy directed by Carlos Santos, along with En el Camino, directed by David Pablos.
The festival also continues to invest in emerging filmmakers through Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today, creating opportunities for new voices to develop their careers and connect with the entertainment industry.
More Than a Film Festival
This is what makes Samuel Douek’s contribution so meaningful.
He did not simply create a film festival. He created a platform. He created a place where Mexican filmmakers could introduce their work to new audiences and where Mexican and Latino communities could see their culture, experiences, and stories represented on screen.
“I know these are difficult times. There is terror around the world. Making movies is complicated. But I prefer to focus on what can be done, on what has been accomplished, rather than on what could not be done,” Douek says.
“I believe that, in the end, if you have a good story, you can go far. You can take it to different places and show it to different audiences.”
Film has the ability to change perceptions.
It can challenge stereotypes, create conversations, and bring people together.
For someone living in Los Angeles who may know Mexico primarily through headlines or stereotypes, watching a Mexican filmmaker tell a complex and authentic story can create a completely different understanding of the country.
That is the bridge Samuel Douek has spent nearly two decades building.
A Mexican Story With a Global Audience
Douek’s journey also reflects the experience of many Latino immigrants.
People may leave their homeland, but they do not leave their culture behind.
They carry their memories, traditions, language, creativity, and stories with them.
Some build businesses. Some become artists. Some become community leaders.
And some create spaces where an entire culture can tell its own story. Samuel Douek chose film.
Through Hola México, he has helped Mexican filmmakers reach audiences in Los Angeles and beyond, creating a space where Mexican stories can travel beyond borders.
“I am happy about these 18 years. The festival has grown, and I think it is where it should be,” Douek says.
“Like everything else, some years are more difficult than others. If you ask me whether I would like it to be bigger, I would definitely say yes. But I would also add that there are many other things I am doing and many other things I would like to do.”
