HERMOSILLO, MEXICO — The state of Sonora marked a significant cultural milestone this week with the launch of its first-ever film festival. The inaugural edition of the Festival de Cine de Sonora 2026 kicked off on October 7, featuring a program of contemporary international cinema, local short film competitions, and educational workshops designed to bolster the region’s creative industries.
The festival opened with the premiere of Señor Apache, a documentary by Luis Fernando Pacheco that explores the legacy of the legendary rock and roll band Los Apson. The film offers an intimate look at the group’s history, featuring firsthand accounts from original members who recount the “old wounds, ruptures, and rivalries” that shaped their iconic sound and left a permanent mark on the music scene.
For the organizers, the festival represents a shift in how the region’s identity is captured on screen. Paty Godoy, a key figure in the festival’s organization, noted that the event is a celebration of a community coming together to “imagine, produce, and build the future of cinema” in Sonora.
The core mission of the festival is centered on local agency. “For decades, filmmakers have come to our state to film,” noted José Esteban Pavlovich, the festival’s artistic director. “But this festival was born from a question: What happens if we turn the camera around and put the people of Sonora behind it to start building our own images and telling our own stories?”
The premiere was attended by a wide array of stakeholders, including filmmakers, actors, production houses, students, and members of the public. Among the guests were producer Nicolás Gutiérrez Wenhammar and the current lineup of Los Apson, led by founding member and saxophonist José Luis “Lichi” García.
Señor Apache takes viewers on an 80-minute journey through Agua Prieta and other territories along the U.S.-Mexico border. It features testimonies from key figures including Franky Gámez, Gil Maldonado, “Lichi” García, and Raúl Cota “El Cubano,” who reflect on the creation of hits like “Fue En Un Café” and “Anoche Me Enamoré.”
The festival will continue through October 11, with screenings hosted at the Cineteca Sonora and other venues. The event is open to the public with free admission, though attendees are encouraged to register in advance due to limited seating.