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David Damian Figueroa

@daviddamianf

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DocuFilm Director & Producer, Writer, Humanitarian Border Relief Volunteer, & Activist✊🏽

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HEY, TUCSON! Exciting news! SAMARITANS is an Official Selection! Film description in comment section. This is our fourth year in a row with four different documentary films as official selections of the Arizona International Film Festival @azfilmfestival, one of the top 100 reviewed film festivals by @filmfreeway. “SAMARITANS” is directed by David Damian Figueroa @daviddamianf. Executive Producer @Pepefied11 and co-produced by @writerreynagrande and features Samaritans,
Alvaro Enciso @aencisoart , Nancy Holahan, Rita Henninger Danks @danksrita , Steve Feldman, Gail Koucerek @kocourekgm , Peter Lucero, Pastor Randy J. Mayer @bienshphrd , Panchito Olachea Martin @panchonogales , Diane Noonan Pothast, Christy Stewart @christycstewart, Shura Wallin, and David Whitmer @davidwwhitmer

#filmmaking #documentary #samaritans #AIFF #director taken in Us/mexico Border Sasabe, Az. by @daviddamianf

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7 months ago

Everybody Wants to Be Mexican, Except Hollywood - It seems that everyone wants to embrace Mexican culture and our $4.1 trillion buying power—except Hollywood.

You cannot celebrate Mexican heritage in Hollywood while remaining silent about the present realities of ICE and the attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

As we celebrate Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month in the United States, it seems the current administration is falling short in truly recognizing this occasion, particularly in light of ICE raids and the divided political climate.

Recently, I spoke with my longtime friend Bel Hernandez @belscoolist from Los Angeles, an expert on all aspects of Latinos in Hollywood. We discussed how the mainstream film industry has changed dramatically over the past few decades. It appears that Hollywood studios have run out of original ideas and have resorted to remakes of remakes, which are failing to draw significant box office revenue.

What hasn’t changed, however, is these same studios’ lack of genuine effort to create a credible space for Latino filmmaking.

Amidst the evolving landscape of film studios—some closing down and others being acquired—Latin Heat Entertainment @latinheatmag has persevered. This organization publishes the Latino Hollywood Journal and Latin Heat Magazine, and its longevity is a testament to its founder and CEO, Bel Hernandez.

Bel embodies the qualities of millions of Latinos in the USA: entrepreneurial, intelligent, innovative, tenacious, and optimistic, always asking insightful questions.

In the Latino filmmaking industry—an industry that certainly exists—many Latino filmmakers have long rejected the notion of being discovered by Hollywood executives. Instead, there may be greater potential for recognition with Bollywood executives. platforms.

Continued on Substack @daviddamianf OR LINK IN BIO

#EverybodyWantsToBeMexican
#CulturalAppreciation
#LatinxVoices
#DiversityInFilm
#RepresentationMatters
#latinofilmmakers
#film
#HollywoodStudios
#latinosinhollywood
#hispanicheritagemonth
#streaming
#Hollywood
#producer
#director
#boxoffice by @daviddamianf

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a year ago

My journey as a humanitarian border relief volunteer with the Samaritans gave my life new meaning. We spent the day filming in the peak of the summer’s heat along the border wall in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert in an area called “The End of the Wall” (EOW). I was directing a documentary, “The Samaritans,” about the humanitarian aid and border relief work of the Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans and their volunteer service in helping stranded migrants.
Continued - LINK IN BIO
Sub stack: @daviddamianf

#extremevolunteering
#volunteers
#migrantsdayarepeopletoo
#migrants taken in Us/mexico Border Sasabe, Az. by @daviddamianf

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a year ago

What a day! Honored to be invited to screen the SAMARITANS docufilm in two Maryland cities—Baltimore and Westminster. Now on to Phoenix ✈️
Huge thanks to my amiga Maria Wong and all the volunteers for the hard work they put into both the screening events. Major gratitude to the incredible hosts Common Ground on the Hill at McDaniel College in Westminster and Govans Presbyterian Church in Baltimore. Thank you to Walt Michael for your leadership, to Richard Anderson for being such a great supporter, and to all the attentive students in attendance. Let’s continue to lift immigrant voices. My heart is full.
🇺🇸iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii🙏🏽🦋💙iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii🇲🇽
#CompassionInAction #samaritans #reclaimingthebordernarrative #servicetoothers #commongroundonthehill by @daviddamianf

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a day ago

@chicanxs_sin_fronteras
Jueves, 12 de noviembre
UAM - Azcapotzalco
El Programa de Posgrado en Historiografía y Chicanes Sin Fronteras presentan:
Película y debate
Samaritanos
(Figueroa, 2026, EE. UU.)
- Con la presencia del director -
11:30 a. m. a 1:30 p. m. / Auditorio: W0001

Presentado por:
David Damian Figueroa (Director de Samaritanos, Arizona, EE. UU.)

Moderado por:
Alonso Vázquez (Profesor del INBAL / Director de Chicanes Sin Fronteras) taken in Mexico City by @daviddamianf

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2 days ago

Capítulo II del VI Encuentro de Cultura Chicana.

El segundo capítulo del VI Encuentro sucederá en la UAM-Azcapotzalco, a través de su Posgrado en Historiografía.

Dale adelante para que conozcas todos los detalles de esta increíble jornada II.

Jueves 12 de Noviembre
UAM Azcapotzalco
Auditorio W0001

09:00 a 10:00 H
CONVERSATORIO
LA CULTURA CHICANA DESDE LA UAM-AZCAPOTZALCO

La UAM-Azcapotzalco es un epicentro para la reflexión de la cultura chicana vista desde la Ciudad de México. En este conversatorio se abordarán las experiencias y las investigaciones sobre historia y cultura chicanx que han emanado en los últimos años desde el Posgrado en Historiografía.

Participan
Dra. Danna Alexandra Levin Rojo
Dra. Esther Berenice Alonso Gómez @estherb1105
Dra. Gemma Argüello Manresa @gemma_ar_m
Mtro. Alfonso Vázquez Pérez @alfonso_vp9

10:00 a 11:30 H
CONFERENCIA
AQUÍ, ALLÁ Y ENTRE MUNDOS: REIMAGINANDO LA CHICANIDAD, LA MEMORIA Y LA PERTENENCIA

¿Qué sucede con la Chicanidad cuando las personas, las imágenes, los sonidos, las memorias y las tradiciones se desplazan a través de fronteras y generaciones? A partir de su trayectoria personal y profesional entre Los Ángeles, San Francisco y México, la Dra. Martina Ayala reflexiona sobre las múltiples formas en que la identidad chicana se crea, se hereda, se transforma y se reinventa.

Presenta: Dra. Martina Ayala @martinalalatina
Modera: Luis Felipe Toral @luisf.toral

11:30 a 13:30 H
PROYECCIÓN DE CINE Y CONVERSATORIO
THE SAMARITANS (Figueroa, 2026, EUA)
CON PRESENCIA DE SU DIRECTOR

En medio de la extraordinaria lucha humana, "Samaritanos" narra una conmovedora historia de esperanza y humanidad en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México, mostrando la labor de voluntarios comprometidos que desafían las duras realidades de la migración con una compasión inquebrantable y ayuda que salva vidas.

Presenta: David Damian Figueroa @daviddamianf

Modera: Alfonso Vázquez @alfonso_vp9 @migrantes.valientes

¡Carnalismo de Gaza a Aztlán!
C/S

Entrada gratuita.
11 al 15 de noviembre. by @daviddamianf

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2 days ago

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for yesterday’s screening! We are so grateful to @daviddamianf for coming out to share this beautiful film with us, and we want to extend a special thanks to our collaborators, ministerio catholico, @johnmaincenter, and @casfirstfellows. MEChA was honored to host this event, and please stay tuned
we have many more coming your way! 🎞️✨🙌 by @daviddamianf

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2 days ago

Washington, DC to Baltimore, Maryland🚄🚆
Sharing the good news🙏🏽🦋💙
#samaritansmovie #servicetoothers #seeyouattheborder
🇺🇸iiiiiiiiiiiiiii🦋iiiiiiiiiiiiiii🇲🇽 taken in Union Station Terminal by @daviddamianf

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2 days ago

Last day of 2026 Hispanic /Latino Heritage Month. Honored to be invited to screen SAMARITANS docufilm at @georgetownuniversity in Washington, DC. Huge thanks to my amiga @juliao.16 / Julia Ortiz for the hard work she put into the screening event she organized. Superb job! Major gratitude to the incredible hosts at the @johnmaincenter and @mechageorgetown . Thank you for your leadership Lisa Directo Davis, Catholic Chaplain for Contemplative
Practices and John Main Center
Program Director, Ada Gonzalez,
Assistant Director for Catholic Engagement,
and Dr. Jen Crewalk, and all the attentive students in attendance. Let’s continue to lift immigrant voices. My heart is full.
🇺🇸iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii🙏🏽🦋💙iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii🇲🇽
#CompassionInAction #samaritans #reclaimingthebordernarrative #servicetoothers #georgetown taken in Georgetown University by @daviddamianf

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3 days ago

Last day of 2026 Hispanic /Latino Heritage Month. Honored to be invited to screen SAMARITANS docufilm at @georgetownuniversity in Washington, DC. Huge thanks to my amiga @juliao.16 / Julia Ortiz for the hard work she put into the screening event she organized. Superb job! Major gratitude to the incredible hosts at the @johnmaincenter and @mechageorgetown . Thank you for your leadership Lisa Directo Davis, Catholic Chaplain for Contemplative
Practices and John Main Center
Program Director, Ada Gonzalez,
Assistant Director for Catholic Engagement,
and Dr. Jen Crewalk, and all the attentive students in attendance. Let’s continue to lift immigrant voices. My heart is full.
🇺🇸iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii🙏🏽🦋💙iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii🇲🇽
#CompassionInAction #samaritans #reclaimingthebordernarrative #servicetoothers #georgetown taken in Georgetown University by @daviddamianf

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3 days ago

Last two days of 2026 Hispanic /Latino Heritage Month. Honored to be invited to screen SAMARITANS docufilm at The George Washington University @gwuniversity / Columbian College of Arts and Sciences in Washington, DC. Huge thanks to our incredible hosts at the Cisneros Institute @gwcisneros - Trey Johnston, @drmanuaviles Manuel Cuellar, Nancy Preciado, and all the attentive students taking notes😌😳. Thank you to @ofe23 @bilingualpress at Arizona State University for the thoughtful and generous recommendation. Let’s continue to lift immigrant voices. My heart is full.
🇺🇸iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii🙏🏽🦋💙iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii🇲🇽
#CompassionInAction #samaritans #reclaimingthebordernarrative #servicetoothers by @daviddamianf

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3 days ago

Greetings from Washington, DC!
Let freedom ring 🔔🙏🏽🦋💙 taken in US Capital, Washington DC by @daviddamianf

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4 days ago