Word from the Director

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Hola Mexico Film Festivalwebsite. HMFF is held every summer in Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth) and in Los Angeles.   On this website you can find the film line up and the schedule for each city, watch our trailers and buy tickets.  You may also want to share your favourite films with your friends.

The Hola Mexico Film Festival aims to bring you the best films that have emerged from the halls (maybe delete) of Mexico - action films, dramas, comedies and real stories that are changing us and making us reflect on our way of life.  The festival was founded in Sydney 2006 and in Los Angeles in 2009.

We are proud to say ADIOS CLICHES and HOLA MEXICO. Our goal is to showcase the real Mexico and share our vision of what life in Mexico is really like on a day-to-day basis. Mexico is not what appears on current television networks or select news reports. We invite you to say goodbye to all the CLICHÉS that surround us every day and say HOLAto Mexico through the eyes of our Film Festival.

This year we made a strong effort to put together the best program possible, and I believe we have one of our best programs to date.  Our feature film presentation for 2012 reflects modern Mexican cinema.  Our opening night selection this year is the light comedy MARIACHI GRINGO a film that shows us the power of Mexican culture and the importance of following your dreams.  The film stars acclaimed Mariachi singer Lila Downs, Shawn Ashmore (X-Men) and Mexican superstar Martha Higareda.  Following the screenings in each city, we will have Tequila, Sol beer and the top authentic Mexican cuisine in your city. (Tautology: Mexican food and Mexican cuisine)

Mexican documentaries have been very successful in creating social conscience and raising awareness. In 2011, we saw the reality of Mexico’s criminal justice system in PRESUNTO CULPABLE. This year, we invite you to experience a Mexican classroom (and witness the gross negligence of the Mexican education system?) in the movie DE PANZAZO! directed by maestro Juan Carlos Rulfo. We also hope you gain insight and greater perspective of the world of smugglers with the eye-opening documentary, FELIX: AUTOFICCIONES DE UN TRAFICANTE.

We are grateful to our sponsors who make 2012 Hola Mexico Film Festival possible.

See you at the movies!

Samuel Douek 
Director del Festival