San Esteban: Freedom, Mysticism and Nopales, 27min., Mexico
Directed by Francisco Herrera
At the foot of the mountains of Zapopan, Mexico, lies San Esteban — an indigenous town whose identity has been shaped for generations by agriculture, ritual, food, and an intimate bond with the land. Sheltered for centuries by valleys and canyons, the community now stands at the edge of an expanding metropolis, caught between preservation and transformation.

http://www.pacoherreraphoto.com/

Get to know DP/Producer Paco Herrera C.:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I was motivated by the need to document a community at a moment of quiet but profound transformation. San Esteban is a place filled with history, resilience, and identity, yet often overlooked. I wanted to show how indigenous traditions and modern influences coexist, collide, and reshape each other. And honestly, I wanted to give something back to the people who welcomed me — to help their stories, their land, and their work be seen.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The project unfolded over roughly a year. I spent significant time in San Esteban, filming as the community's rhythms revealed themselves. Then we realized we needed to integrate the "outsiders" — the adventurers and nature-driven visitors who are now part of the town's reinvention — and following them extended the shooting period. Post-production took several months, especially the sound design, because capturing the essence of the place meant treating sound almost as another character.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Rural Resilience

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest challenge was staying invisible enough to allow the community to be themselves. We worked with a very small crew to maintain intimacy, which also meant long days and wearing many hats. Another challenge was finding the right balance between respecting traditions and portraying the changes happening around them without judgment. Balancing the presence and influence of both communities — the indigenous farmers and the new adventurers — in the construction of a new identity was also complex.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It was incredibly moving. As filmmakers, we spend so much time immersed in our own intentions that hearing what resonates with others is both surprising and rewarding. Seeing people pick up on the emotional undercurrents — the land, the identity, the tension between past and future — made me feel the film reached what it was meant to reach.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Pretty early. I started experimenting with analog video when I was very young, long before I knew it would become a career. Film school confirmed it: cinematography, storytelling, and connecting with people through images felt like home. From there, I never really stopped.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

I have a daughter, so lately I've been watching the same animated films more than a dozen times — and I love them.

Before that, in film school, I dissected films to learn from them. Cinema Paradiso, Empire of the Sun, and Apocalypse Now were favorites, along with Amores Perros and Fight Club. In documentaries, Baraka, Bowling for Columbine, Del olvido al no me acuerdo and En el hoyo were major influences.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I really value festivals that create meaningful interaction between filmmakers, local communities, and audiences — whether through conversations, roundtables, or small workshops. Opportunities to connect beyond the screening room, especially around the themes of the films, make a huge difference. Practical development labs and networking spaces are also incredibly helpful for independent filmmakers like myself.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on the platform site?

FilmFreeway has been very straightforward and efficient. For independent filmmakers juggling multiple projects, the platform makes submissions, materials, and deadlines manageable. It's a tool I rely on for most of my festival strategy.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I love tacos! And ramen!

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Yes — the plan is to continue this line of work by creating another short documentary about a neighboring community. Every town has its own story, its own way of facing change, and I want to build a series of portraits that highlight these unique identities. The goal is to replicate the San Esteban experience and keep exploring the relationship between land, tradition, and modern life.

San Esteban is the second in this series, and I hope to produce a first season of six films.