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Jesus Cruz

@elfilmero

1.7K

followers

1982

following

𝙴𝚕 𝙵𝚒𝚕𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚘 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜
🎬 Award Winning Filmmaker 🎥
Souleros | Soul Searchin’ | Soul Built This

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

We are happy to announce that we’re going to start screening our documentary Soul Searchin’ this Summer!!! (Check bio for dates/locations)

Soul Searchin’ is a feature-length documentary that delves into the passionate world of rare soul music record collectors. It highlights how these enthusiasts transform obscure tracks into cultural treasures, preserving the legacies of forgotten artists within the Mexican American (Chicano) community and beyond.

The film focuses on Ruben Molina, Josh Whittemore, and Arlene Sepulveda aka Soulera 5150 —collectively known as The Southern Soul Spinners from Los Angeles, California. Through their stories, the documentary reveals how soul music inspired their love for record collecting, helped some of them escape a gang lifestyle, and enriched their global journeys sharing music with others.

Filmed and edited by Jesus Cruz & Alex Vigano
El Filmero Productions 2025

#SoulSearchin #soul #soulmusic #vinylrecords #southernsoulspinners #raresoul #raresoul45s #chicano #chicana #oldies #undergroundoldies #lowrideroldies #lowridermusic #sweetsoul #sweetsoulmusic #sweetsoulrecords #rubenmolina #soulera5150 #joshwhittemore #losangeles #vinyl #vinylrecordcollection #vinylrecordcollector #souldies #film #documentary #souldocumentary #musicdocumentary taken in Los Angeles, California by @elfilmero

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a year ago

El Filmero Productions will present the final theater screening of its award-winning documentary Soul Searchin’ on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Starlight Whittier Village Cinemas. Before the film moves toward its streaming release in 2027, audiences will have one last opportunity to experience it together on the big screen, followed by a Q&A session with filmmakers & cast with a vinyl afterparty (Venue to be announced) after the screening. This film has a PG-13 rating.

Directed and produced by Bay Area filmmakers Jesus Cruz and Alexandro Vigano, Soul Searchin’ explores the deep connection between African American soul music and Chicano culture through the lives of Los Angeles record collectors Ruben Molina, Josh Whittemore, and Arlene Sepulveda of the Southern Soul Spinners. Their stories reveal how rare records preserve memories, shape identity, and connect communities across generations and borders.

The documentary has screened internationally in Japan, Australia, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, and was selected by 12 film festivals across the United States. It won Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 Lone Star Film Festival and concluded its festival run with another award at the inaugural Pinnacles Film Festival in King City, California.

Get your discounted pre sale tickets at elfilmero.com LINK IN BIO taken in Starlight Whittier Village Cinemas by @elfilmero

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2 days ago

Congratulations to Jesus Cruz for winning Best Documentary Feature at the inaugural Pinnacles Film Festival for SOUL SEARCHIN’! 🏆

SOUL SEARCHIN’ explores the passionate world of rare soul record collectors who devote their lives to finding, preserving, and sharing forgotten music. More than a film about collecting, it is a story of cultural preservation, community, and obsession, following collectors as they rescue neglected recordings by Black and Chicano soul artists and transform forgotten songs into living history, from California to the world.

Congratulations to Jesus Cruz and the team behind SOUL SEARCHIN’ on this recognition!

#ThePinnaclesFilmFestival #BestDocumentaryFeature #IndependentFilm #MontereyCounty #FilmFestival taken in King City, California by @elfilmero

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3 days ago

2 WEEKS AWAY‼️ TICKETS IN BIO

For the first time in Los Angeles California, @HelloStrangerLA presents an intimate film screening about Chicano Soul pioneer Dimas Garza. You’ve Succeeded: The Life & Times Of Dimas Garza follows his life, career, and accomplishments as an artist best told by his closest friends and music historians. Following the screening there will be Q&A with filmmaker @ChucoGarcia from San Antonio Texas and special vinyl sets by @FlacoSoul and @Dave_Salvaje

📍Hello Stranger LA | Los Angeles, CA
📅October 24, 2026
⏰8PM-12AM
🎟️Link In Bio

#ChicanoSoul #Documentary #WestsideSound #MusicHistory #Film taken in Los Angeles, California by @elfilmero

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4 days ago

What a journey this has been.

Last night in King City, CA, our documentary Soul Searchin’ officially concluded its film festival run at the inaugural @thepinnaclesfilmfestival

Over the past year, we had the honor of being selected by 12 film festivals across the U.S. and were fortunate enough to attend several of them in person. Along the way, we got to visit new cities, meet incredible filmmakers, make new connections, and share this film with audiences from different communities.

Our journey came full circle. The Lone Star Film Festival was the very first festival to accept Soul Searchin’, where we went on to win Best Documentary Feature last year. And now, at our final festival submission, we were awarded Best Feature Documentary at the Pinnacles Film Festival.

@viganophoto and I want to thank every audience that came out to support the film, stayed for our Q&As, asked thoughtful questions, and shared their stories with us.

And a special shoutout to all the record collectors, spinners, and DJs who brought out their 45s and helped turn so many of these screenings into something bigger than just a movie night.

The festival run may be over, but we still have ONE LAST PUBLIC SCREENING of Soul Searchin’ before we move into the next chapter. Official announcement coming tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. 🎬🎵 by @elfilmero

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4 days ago

Meet Jesus Cruz, director of Soul Searchin’ 🎬

His film explores the passionate world of soul record collectors. It follows a small group of collectors as they rescue neglected recording by Black and Chicano soul artists. 🎶

Catch Soul Searchin’ as part of Block C at The Pinnacles Film Festival on Saturday, October 10 at King City Cinemas.

🎟️ Tickets: soltreasures.com/thepinnaclesfilmfestival
or tap the link in our bio!

#thepinnaclesfilmfestival #filmfestival #independentfilm #filmscreening #montereycounty taken in King City, California by @elfilmero

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9 days ago

🎬 SOUL SEARCHIN’

Coming to The Pinnacles Film Festival on Saturday, October 10th.

Watch ‘Soul Searchin’, directed by Jesus Cruz , as part of Block C! 🍿

🎟️ Tickets: soltreasures.com/thepinnaclesfilmfestival
or tap the link in our bio!

#thepinnaclesfilmfestival #filmfestival #independentfilm #filmscreening #montereycounty taken in King City, California by @elfilmero

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9 days ago

NOW AVAILABLE at the @secretsidewalktattoos SHOP IN NILES!!!

El Filmero Productions and @eddyreyesjr collaborated on EL SOULERO t shirt original design inspired by the Soulero record collector movement and Mexican Lucha Libre culture.

T shirts are now physically available at the Secret Sidewalk Tattoo shop in Niles in Fremont, CA but we’re taking online orders as well DM us of email us at elfilmero@gmail.com

Thank you to those who have bought and rocked our t shirt DON’T FORGET TO TAG!!! taken in Niles, CA by @elfilmero

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15 days ago

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported our Crate to Canvas exhibit, presented by myself and @tbl_raresoulcollective at @medicinefornightmares in San Francisco.

From the film screening to the artwork, photography, and vinyl sets, this exhibit brought together record collectors, friends, family, and plenty of curious bookstore visitors who stopped, looked, and listened. We even had our good homie @shin_bg_records come all the way through from Japan. Gracias, Shin Gon!!!

One of my favorite moments from closing night was watching a young woman try to identify a song one of the collectors was playing with her phone. When she couldn’t find it, I encouraged her to just ask the collector directly. Seeing how excited she was to discover a new song and maybe get introduced to the rare soul scene really summed up what this exhibit was about: sharing music, knowledge, culture, and community.

Big thank you to @medicinefornightmares for opening your doors to us and providing such a great space for this exhibit. And personally, I walked away with a stack of books and discovered titles I probably wouldn’t have come across otherwise.

Thank you to everyone who contributed, stopped by, spun records, shared the exhibit, bought books, asked questions, and helped make Crate to Canvas something dope. by @elfilmero

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19 days ago

旅の初日はサンフランシスコ・ミッション！映画『ソウル・サーチン』の監督、へスースが地元のソウレロらとイベントをやっているというので会場の書店〜ギャラリーに駆けつけたら夢のような場所でびっくり！チカーノ〜USラテン、エスニック・スタディーズ、音楽、アート、ローカル・・・文化系最新書籍を全て集めた店主入魂の品揃えに深く感動。ソウルに酔いながら欲しかった本が沢山入手出来た。ヒップスターに侵食されそうになったバリオの伝統が守られている。まさにCon Respeto!
@medicinefornightmares
#mission
#cultura
#medicinefornightmares taken in Medicine for Nightmares by @elfilmero

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19 days ago

Soul Searchin’ last NorCal (Central Coast) screening!!!

@thepinnaclesfilmfestival
Saturday October 24th 10am-6pm
@king_city_cinemas
200 Broadway St. King City, CA

For ticket info and screening schedules visit www.elfilmero.com taken in King City Cinemas by @elfilmero

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a month ago

🎥🎙️ At @chicanosoulfest, we got the opportunity to interview @elfilmero as he goes in depth on his journey with @masdulcesoul, Mas Dulce Productions from capturing collectors to documenting artists and bringing their visions to life. 🎬 🎞️ We also dive into his personal journey, the work behind the lens, and their next project. Always grateful for the opportunity to highlight the creatives behind the scenes and learn the story and intention behind their work. Thank you for allowing me to share your journey. It’s truly an honor and a privilege to be trusted with people’s stories. 🙏🏼🎥 #fyp #parati #chicanosoulfest2026 #soul #film taken in History San Jose by @elfilmero

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a month ago