ABOUT

Jorge Xolalpa is a Mexican-born, award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer whose work has earned widespread recognition for its emotional depth, visual minimalism, and focus on underrepresented voices. Born on December 13, 1988, in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles, California, Xolalpa is a DACA recipient whose path to cinema is as bold and unconventional as his films. Initially on a trajectory toward a legal career—he pivoted into filmmaking after being profoundly inspired by Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. That moment awakened his passion for storytelling and led him to build a career rooted in authenticity and fearless creativity, despite having no formal film education.

In 2014, Xolalpa founded Mighty Aphrodite Pictures, a Los Angeles-based independent production and finance company committed to championing female-driven narratives.

His directorial debut came in 2016 with Blue Line Station, a feature film shot entirely on an iPhone 6 Plus with a budget of just $100. Defying all odds, the film was selected by 46 film festivals and named one of Indiewire's "Top 10 Films Shot On An iPhone," setting the tone for his resourceful and boundary-pushing approach to filmmaking.

In 2017, he directed Valentina, a Spanish-language drama produced on a modest $500 budget. The film went on to win numerous accolades at over 40 festivals, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actress, proving Xolalpa’s capability to produce cinematic excellence with minimal resources.

He followed up in 2018 with Sweet Caroline, a dark psychological thriller that premiered at the Sunscreen Film Festival and took home the Best Picture award. In 2020, Xolalpa released the deeply personal Your Iron Lady, based on his mother's unpublished memoir. The film powerfully addressed the immigrant experience and motherhood, earning serious awards consideration, including being put forward for a Golden Globe nomination. The Los Angeles Times described it as “a love letter to all mothers in the world,” and the Associated Press spotlighted Xolalpa for his perseverance in an uncertain legal and political climate.

In 2021, he directed Melancolía, a drama starring major Latin American Pop Star Alessandra Rosaldo, Plutarco Haza, and Laura Flores. The film premiered at the prestigious Marché du Film at Cannes and was picked up by Avatar Entertainment for world sale rights, marking a major milestone in Xolalpa’s career as he broke into international recognition.

His upcoming film, Lolita (2025), is already generating buzz and is expected to premiere summer 2025. Promising to be his boldest and most visually ambitious work to date, Lolita signals the next evolution in Xolalpa's cinematic voice. Jorge is currently gearing up to direct his upcoming feature film Huehxolotl, a tense immigration thriller that follows the harrowing journey of a woman trapped in a covert ICE operation. The film explores themes of identity, survival, and the human cost of broken systems, set against a gripping neo-noir backdrop. Huehxolotl marks a bold new chapter in Jorge’s filmmaking, blending social commentary with high-stakes drama. Huehxolotl goes into production summer 2025 for a summer 2026 release. 

Xolalpa draws inspiration from auteurs such as Darren Aronofsky, Yorgos Lanthimos, Woody Allen, Ingmar Bergman, and John Cassavetes. His work is frequently praised for its psychological complexity, minimalist aesthetics, and raw emotional resonance. Operating largely outside traditional studio systems, he has created a name for himself through sheer determination, vision, and a deep connection to the stories he tells.

Today, Jorge Xolalpa stands as a leading voice in independent cinema. Through his production company, he remains dedicated to uplifting diverse narratives and disrupting conventional filmmaking models—proving that great cinema doesn’t require big budgets, just big ideas and an uncompromising vision. He is married to professional actor and dancer Alexis Vazquez, whose artistry and partnership have been a constant source of inspiration in his creative journey. Together, they have two puppies and two kittens. Representing a dynamic force in the arts, united by a shared passion for storytelling and inclusive representation in film.

Jorge recently completed his first memoir, Ni de aquí, Ni de allá: A Soul Suspended Between Two Worlds, which he is currently shopping to literary agents and publishers. In addition to his filmmaking career, he has also begun writing his debut novel, The Woman in the Mirror, further expanding his creative voice into the literary world.