LOS ANGELES - s4story -- The largest Mexican film festival outside of Mexico, Hola México Film Festival presented by Toyota returns for its 18th annual edition on September 25 – October 3, 2026, during Hispanic Heritage Month.

In its 18th year, the festival continues to push the boundaries of Mexican cinema. It showcases new filmmakers, established names, and recognized actors as they explore innovative creative territories. The festival features a diverse selection of films that cater to all tastes, including dramas, comedies, documentaries, and horror films.

The opening night film screening on September 25, 2026, will be at The Montalban Theater. Screenings will be held at Regal Cinemas LA LIVE 1000 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015.  The festival will conclude on September 25, 2026, with a closing night screening and a concert at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown Los Angeles, preceded by an award ceremony recognizing the audience's choice for Best Film and Best Short Film.

Opening Night film announcement coming soon, in the meantime you can purchase your festival passes for the Hola Mexico Film Festival presented by Toyota starting today at  https://bit.ly/4aHNXSh.

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 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."

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All the greatest movies have memorable film posters. Each year, the festival takes part in this tradition and prides itself on working with Mexico's most sought-after graphic designers to create unique and collectible poster art. Joaco designed this year's poster.

Illustrator from Northern Mexico. He works mostly with retro-futuristic, Pre-Hispanic-inspired esoteric imagery. On this piece, the eagle's wings turn into film strips, and the scene becomes a surreal mix of symbols. Angels appear on either side, and a three-faced sun shines above. Symbols from both Mexico and California create a scene in which even the smallest detail feels like an abstraction.

The festival consists of 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.

For more than 10 years, Tomorrow's Filmmakers Today (TFT) has championed the next generation of Latino filmmakers through an immersive professional development experience in Los Angeles that combines mentorship, industry access, and festival participation. Supported by The Golden Globe Foundation and with more than 200 alumni working across film, television, and media, TFT has become a trusted pipeline for discovering and advancing new creative voices while fostering a powerful network of filmmakers, mentors, and industry professionals who continue to support one another throughout their careers.

Applications for the 2026 TFT Fellowship open on June 12 and close July 30, and 20 filmmakers will be selected to participate in the program during the 2026 Hola Mexico Film Festival. For more information visit  https://www.holamexicoff.com/tft/

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2026 Sponsors of the 18th Annual Hola Mexico Film Festival Presented by Toyota: DCA (Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles), LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, McDonald's, Maison Perrier, LA Galaxy, Univision, 88.5fm The SoCal Sound and the presenting sponsor Toyota.

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 nearly 47 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 2.7 million cars and trucks (more than 2.3 million in the U.S.) in 2024, of which more than 43 percent were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

Editors, please note:

Hola Mexico Film Festival presented by Toyota: September 25 –October 3, 2026.

The screenings will be held at:

Opening Night at The Montalban Theater 1615 Vine St, Hollywood, CA 90028

Regal Cinemas LA LIVE 1000 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Closing Night Screening + Concert at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes located at 501 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

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