Immigration raids will not prevent the Hola Mexico Film Festival, which celebrates its 17th anniversary this year, from taking place from this Friday, September 12, to Saturday, September 20, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.

“The idea is to not be afraid, when we are afraid, we lose; and it is understandable because what is happening is very ugly; we hope that this horrible situation ends soon, but I want to remind you that movie theaters are private places where ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) or the police cannot enter unless they have an arrest warrant,” said Samuel Douek, founder and director of the Hola Mexico Film Festival, held every year in Los Angeles to offer Angelenos a sample of the best of Mexican and Latin American cinema.

“This year, we are going to different theaters that we had never been to before, the Milagros Cinema in Norwalk and the Cinepolis in Pico Rivera,” he said.

He specified that they will open with Autos, Mota y Rocanrol, a film based on the famous Avandaro Festival in Valle de Bravo held in Mexico in the 70s.

“The opening will be at the Montalban Theater in Hollywood and the screening is sold out. The film is what It is known as a mockumentary about how the Avandaro Festival was created. We will have two of the actors Alejandro Speitezer and Ianis Guerrero during the presentation of the film.”

Douek said that the sample of 15 films and 8 documentaries that will be shown this year was selected from among more than 200.

“We are going to see a lot of soccer and athletes from around the world, and topics related to schools and prisons.”

He considered the festival and cinema in general to be a form of escape, two hours in which we do not see the phone or what is outside the room.

“They tell us a story, and sometimes we cry or laugh, and we are entertained.”

In these 17 years of the Hola Mexico Film Festival in Los Angeles, he said they have created a space that makes them feel proud of the positive representation of Mexican cinema.

“In the current political climate, highlighting the achievements of Mexicans and Latinos is crucial. Immigrants like Inarritu, Cuaron, and Del Toro are a testament to success. In 2025, we will present films that connect deeply with audiences.”

He said they will close on September 20th at the Plaza de LA Cultura y las Artes with the film “Mirreyes vs. Godinez,” featuring its director Chava Cartas, lead actor Daniel Tovar, and the East Los Angeles group Spaghetti Cumbia.

For tickets and a list of films and documentaries that will be shown at Hola Mexico, visit: http://www.holamexicoff.com/