The Californer - The 18th annual Hola México Film Festival presented by Toyota All-Electric Family

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Featuring the opening-night screening of "Loco México Mágico"

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- The largest Mexican film festival outside of Mexico, Hola México Film Festival presented by Toyota All-Electric Family, returns for its 18th annual edition on September 25 – October 3, during Hispanic Heritage Month.

The 18th Annual Hola Mexico Film Festival presented by Toyota All-Electric Family is excited to announce the opening night screening of the film "Loco México Mágico". The screening will take place on September 25, 2026, at The Montalban Theater in Hollywood.

What could possibly go wrong when an eccentric mayor decides to turn Alvarado, Veracruz, into the next great tourist destination by making a Hollywood-style movie? Armed with plenty of enthusiasm, very little money and absolutely no experience, he assembles a colorful crew of local residents, led by a videographer who normally films quinceañera and is suddenly promoted to director. Between improvised special effects, oversized ambitions and that unmistakable Mexican ingenuity, the entire town must come together to get this wonderfully chaotic production onto the big screen. Because in Mexico, when there's no rulebook… there's always magic.

1h 37min | Comedy| 2026 | México
Director: Carlos Santos
Writer: Carlos Santos
Producer: Fernanda Meza
Cast: Silverio Palacios, Daniel Sosa, Fernando Cuautle, Florencia Benítez, Sofía Carrera, Rocío Guzmán, Shaní Lozano, Norma Reyna
Language: Spanish with English Subtitles

Trailer: https://youtu.be/8d6kzhTAaIg?si=_pNZoR1JPi91PTZE

Following the screening, celebrate Opening Night at our official Rooftop After Party (21+), featuring complimentary food and drinks alongside filmmakers, special guests, and fellow film lovers.

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Get your early bird tickets by August 14, 2026, to reserve your spot.
https://tickets.holamexicoff.com/websales/pages...;

The festival invites viewers to come together in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by showcasing some of the newest and most acclaimed Mexican films. The festival attracts over 10,000 cinephiles, featuring more than 20 films, many of which will have their U.S. or West Coast premieres during red-carpet galas attended by renowned actors and directors.

Hola México Film Festival presented by Toyota All-Electric Family will feature 20+ films and 20 short films from its filmmaker-focused program Tomorrows Filmmakers Today.

Samuel Douek, the founder and director of HMFF, expressed his excitement for the film festival's celebration. "18 years of celebrating Mexican cinema in LA is a strong statement about the community and their love for Mexican films! At the same time, we're happy to continue celebrating Mexico's cinematic achievements worldwide. Los Angeles and Mexico are connected in many ways, but cinema holds the strongest bond."

The festival comprises the following sections: México Ahora, Documental, El Otro México, and Nocturno. México Ahora features the best of Mexican films released in recent years, covering every genre. Documental includes notable non-fiction films made by Mexican filmmakers. El Otro Mexico highlights the experiences of Mexicans rarely portrayed on screen, skillfully presenting perceptive narratives that challenge the status quo. The Nocturno section offers offbeat stories and horror films.

2026 Sponsors of the 18th Annual Hola Mexico Film Festival Presented by Toyota All-Electric Family.: Bilingual Sounds 88.5 HD2, DCA (Departamento de Asuntos Culturales, Los Ángeles), Delta//Aeroméxico, Maison Perrier, LABO, LA Galaxy, Pico Rivera, Univision 34, UNAM Los Ángeles, and title sponsor Toyota All-Electric Family.

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About Hola México Film Festival:
Founded in 2008, Hola Mexico Film Festival, the largest Mexican Film Festival outside of Mexico, strives to highlight the best and brightest talents in Mexican cinematography. Spanning comedies, dramas, horror films, and documentaries, the festival showcases high-quality films in a festive atmosphere in conjunction with exclusive parties and outdoor concerts.

Samuel Douek, Founder & Director of the HMFF earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from Mexico City's Anahuac University and his master's degree in Event Management in Sydney, Australia, where he founded Hola Mexico Film Festival. The festival has since grown into the largest of its kind outside of Mexico and is now a celebrated, yearly tradition held in the capital of the worldwide film industry, Los Angeles, CA.

About Toyota:
Toyota, creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands and directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America (nearly 48,000 in the U.S.).

For almost 70 years, Toyota has assembled over 50 million cars and trucks in North America at the company's 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, the company's plant in North Carolina began assembling automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.9 million cars and trucks (more than 2.5 million in the U.S.) in 2025, of which more than 47 percent were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

More information: http://www.holamexicoff.com/