Luis Alejandro Hidalgo, who was recently appointed Theatrical Distribution Manager for Spanglish Movies, has been associated with the company since a young age due to his great love for cinema. Before his new position, Hidalgo was the Digital Marketing Manager.
Since 2010, he has been involved with film and TV through his website (Amo ir al Cine), which focuses on informing, educating, and entertaining. At 18, he joined Gustavo Aparicio’s team in Venezuela. “Aparicio and Marcello Gagliardi were the two people who greatly trained me in the film world, especially in marketing. I became a service provider and then moved on to Marketing Strategy Manager for movie releases in different territories. I have been working with Spanglish Movies for five and a half years,” said Hidalgo. In his current role, he manages the Theatrical Distribution for Latin America and U.S. Hispanic content.
“My sincere thanks to Gustavo R. Aparicio for the opportunity he has given me. I am super excited and enthusiastic about what this new phase for Spanglish Movies could be. Ready to enter new territories, achieve new goals, and ensure that important Latino content continues to reach a lot of people, and that those who don’t know it can learn about and enjoy Latino content, making it part of their lives,” Hidalgo commented.
“Luis’s passion for the film industry and his proven track record of success make him the perfect choice for the role of Theatrical Distribution Manager. His strategic vision, marketing skills, and dedication will elevate our company’s film releases to new heights. I am excited to have Luis leading our film distribution efforts in this exciting new role,” said Aparicio, CEO of Spanglish Movies.
SPANGLISH MOVIES: A STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR PRODUCERS
Today, although Spanglish Movies originated in film distribution, this is just one part of the business for this multimedia company, which ranges from film co-production to licensing on SVOD and AVOD, FAST channels, and streaming platforms; a programmatic advertising unit in CTV, and an AI model training unit. “This makes us unique, allowing us to monetize our directors’ and producers’ content across as many platforms as possible,” added Aparicio.
Hidalgo points out that Spanglish Movies is a strategic partner for all film and series producers in Latin America who want to find a market. “We work very closely with producers and directors who entrust us with their product to reach as many territories as possible, supported by marketing strategies that amplify access: movie theaters and enjoyment of the Latino content they offer in the territory. Our differentiation is that we specialize in Latino content for Latino audiences,” he explained.
Hidalgo mentioned that they provide comprehensive support to producers: assessing the project’s status. “At Spanglish Movies, we are able to support the project throughout the creation of marketing materials that can aid in distribution and billboards. We have a team of professionals who can supply all the necessary resources to ensure a film’s successful distribution. Support and advice are very important. We always try to do things differently and positively, disruptively, so that people go to the cinema and watch the movie,” he emphasized.
He cited several success stories, one of which was the film ¡Qué León! with Ozuna and Clarissa Molina, which was a “resounding success in the Caribbean islands and U.S. Hispanic markets. It was a romantic comedy that had tremendous reception. We worked with Caribbean Cinemas.”
He also mentioned the case of Capitán Avispa, which has already premiered in 32 territories: Bolivia, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Aruba, Curacao, U.S., Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Canada, Antigua, St. Lucia, Guyana, Trinidad, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, Belize, Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, and will arrive in Spain on September 13.
UPCOMING RELEASES
Hidalgo mentioned that the upcoming releases managed by Spanglish Movies include Mi gallo, which premieres on the 22nd in Mexico; Perdiendo el juicio, which debuts on September 5 in Puerto Rico; and El halcón, which will have its premiere on September 13 in the U.S.
Mi gallo is a feature film that immerses the viewer in a story of loyalty, sacrifice, and redemption set against the backdrop of cockfighting and the dark world of the mafia in Culiacán, Sinaloa. The film follows the life of Luis, nicknamed “Camarón,” a simple man living in a quiet town with his wife Amalia, where they raise roosters as their main source of income.
Perdiendo el juicio is the story of two successful lawyers, Mara and Mateo, each in different cities across the country, but equally successful. Both are hired by a wealthy couple residing in Navarrete who want a divorce. The film is directed by Frank Perozo and written by Kendy Yanoreth. It stars Shalim Ortíz, Clarissa Molina, and Julián Gil, alongside Cheddy García, Charityn Goico, Aquiles Correa, Marko, Kenny Grullón, Barbara Plaza, and Tiby Camacho.
El halcón revolves around a character who, in his glory days, fought for justice until a terrible event caused all the fighters to disappear from the public eye. Thirty years later, Ramón—a retired fighter—is the owner of a taco shop with his son Pancho, where they must deal with a gang terrorizing Tijuana. When Pancho wants to put a stop to the crime and don the mask, he is kidnapped by an old nemesis of his father: The Captain. *El Halcón* will rise again with a thirst for vengeance.