Yucatán Boosts Local Filmmaking With Ambulante Tour

Mérida, Yucatán — The arrival of the Ambulante Documentary Tour in Yucatán this year has created opportunities for both emerging and established filmmakers while fostering public engagement with non-fiction cinema. The initiative, facilitated by the Secretariat of Culture and the Arts (Sedeculta), aimed to encourage reflection on local film production, expand audiences for documentary films, and provide free screenings for a week.

A Platform for Filmmakers and Audiences

As part of the Maya Renaissance initiative, Sedeculta emphasized the importance of diversifying and democratizing cultural offerings through collaborations like Ambulante, which selected Yucatán as an official stop for its 2025 tour. Recognized as one of Mexico and Latin America’s leading documentary film forums, Ambulante allowed aspiring and experienced filmmakers, as well as cinema enthusiasts, to explore alternative storytelling methods and engage directly with directors.

From June 5 onward, the event hosted over 50 activities, including screenings of films from Yucatán, Mexico, and abroad, many followed by discussions with their creators. The primary venues were the Manuel Barbachano Cinematheque at the Armando Manzanero Theater and the newly upgraded Mayamax Auditorium at the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, which debuted enhanced audio and projection equipment. Additional screenings took place at cultural centers such as Ricardo López Méndez in Cordemex, La Ibérica, and the Yucatecan Children’s Cultural Center (Cecuny).

Highlights of the Event

Two major events stood out: a keynote lecture and discussion with acclaimed Mexican actor, director, and producer Gael García Bernal, alongside actor Francisco Barreiro, which filled the Mayamax Auditorium to capacity. The same venue hosted a screening of Searching for Sugar Man, preceded by a live musical performance by the Luis Luna Guarneros Symphony Band, conducted by Todor Ivanov. The band performed two arrangements of Sixto Rodríguez’s music specially prepared for the occasion.

Other notable activities included a workshop led by Mexican director Tin Dirdamal for both novice and experienced filmmakers, as well as a Documentary Filmmakers’ Roundtable where local creators exchanged insights and analyzed challenges in non-fiction filmmaking. Post-screening discussions featured directors María Bello (Las Amazonas) and Ana Ts’uyeb (Li chan), whose films examine violence against women, as well as Verena Paravel, who presented Leviathan, an immersive film depicting industrial fishing in the United States.

The collaboration with Ambulante reinforced Yucatán’s commitment to supporting local cinema and broadening access to cultural experiences for audiences of all ages.