Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna’s Ambulante Documentary Film Festival is Coming to America

Founded in Mexico in 2005 by Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Pablo Cruz and Elena Fortes, Ambulante, currently the largest documentary film festival in Mexico, is now expanding its international reach to the U.S.

The non-profit has unveiled its first U.S. festival lineup, which will take place across eight different neighborhoods in Los Angeles in partnership with local Latino heritage non-profit organizations. The (free!) non-competitive festival aims to provide the community with a “curated program of twenty-two documentaries representing a mix of topics, ranging from cultural identity, music, family driven, biography, social justice and environmental issues.” The festival not only brings together the greater Los Angeles community, but it also seeks to give new, Latin American filmmakers some serious international clout. 

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Ambulante California director, Christine Davila said, “It’s been truly inspiring to discover the vital and impressive sector of both cultural and social service non-profits throughout Los Angeles, and to join forces with them to bridge documentary cinema and community.”

The festival’s opening film, “Bronx Obama,” directed by Ryan Murdock, follows the story of Puerto Rican single father, Louis Ortiz, whose uncanny resemblance to the President of the United States gives him a new lease on life as an Obama impersonator soon after Obama’s galvanizing 2008 Hope campaign. As the realities of Ortiz’s unexpected career collide with his personal life, it also draws a fascinating parallel to the shifting perception of the presidency. (Synopsis courtesy of ACDFF.)

Ambulante California will launch on  September 21 running through October 4. The full lineup is listed below. For more information on Ambulante California, head here. 

Ink & Paper
Ben Proudfood | USA | 2011

Alive Inside 
Michael Rossato-Bennett | USA | 2013

The Pink Helmet Posse
Benjamin Mullinkosson, Kristelle Laroche | USA | 2014

Cairo Drive
Sherief Elkatshat | Egypt | 2013 

Elevator
Adrián Ortiz Maciel | Mexico | 2012