Why Go: To experience a good selection of recent Mexican cinema in the company of a largely Mexican-American audience.

Festival Website: http://www.holamexicoff.com/

When: Nine days in mid-May

Festival Description: Festival founder Samuel Drouek launched the festival in 2006 in Australia and  moved the event to Los Angeles in 2008. The festival, which screened 18 films in 2014, showcases highlights of recent Mexican popular and art cinema. All films have English subtitles.

Filmmaker Turnout: Good.

Audience: The local Chicano community turns out in force. In 2014 over 25,000 people attended.

Venue: Regal Cinemas at LA Live, a new, very comfortable multiplex.

Lodging, Restaurants, Getting There, Getting Around: See information on LA Film Festival page.

The Festival Year by Year

2014

Best Film I Saw: Heli. Amante Escalante’s harrowing tale of a family drawn into drug warfare and political corruption gave rise to a spirited post-film Q and A with the director, as some praised his willingness to shine a light on Mexico’s problems and others scolded him for washing the nation’s dirty laundry in Los Angeles (thereby dampening the tourist trade).

2015

Best Film I Saw: The Hours with You (Las horas contigo). First time writer- director Catalina Aguilar Mastretta’s sensitive handling of detail complements stellar performances by Mexican divas Maria Rojo and Isela Vega to  transform a predictable and sentimental story into a deeply moving study of a family of strong women. An inspired pick for the fest’s Mother’s Day screening slot.

Unexpected Pleasure: The spirited horseplay Mexican acting vets Damian Alcazar and Arturo Rios  in Gustavo Moheno’s hilarious  Eddie Reynolds y los Angeles de Acero.

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