Queer Mexican rodeo film 'Jaripeo' premieres at Sundance 2026

Directors Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig blur the lines between city raves and rural rodeos in their debut documentary.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:31pm

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When queer filmmaker Efraín Mojica invited co-director Rebecca Zweig to spend Christmas with his family in Michoacán, Mexico, Zweig became fascinated by the annual jaripeo, or Mexican rodeo competition, and the performance of masculinity she observed. This led to the creation of their debut documentary film 'Jaripeo,' which premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The film follows Mojica, who appears as both narrator and protagonist, as he interviews members of the LGBTQ community in and around his hometown, blending cinéma vérité with abstract sequences that draw parallels between queer nightlife and the rodeo.

Why it matters

In a time of increasing hostility against LGBTQ people and immigrants in the United States, 'Jaripeo' affirms the strength of community and a mother's unconditional love, transcending borders and challenging preconceived notions about queer life in Mexico.

The details

Mojica and Zweig's documentary 'Jaripeo' begins with a pastoral scene from Mojica's pickup truck overlooking the grasslands of Michoacán, before cutting to scenes of bandas, revelers in tejana hats, and sexy cowboys dancing in the rodeo ring. The crew uses strobe lights in the cornfields to draw parallels to queer nightlife. Interviews with local figures like rodeo clown 'La Pirinola,' who performs in drag, and bearded makeup artist Joseph Cerda Bañales, who was unfortunately denied entry to the U.S. for the Sundance premiere, add depth and dimension to Mojica's memories of the village. The film also features flirtatious moments between Mojica and the dashing, discreetly gay ranchero Noé Margarito Zaragoza.

  • Mojica invited Zweig to Michoacán in 2018 to spend Christmas with his family.
  • The film 'Jaripeo' premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on January 25, 2026.

The players

Efraín Mojica

A queer filmmaker from Riverside and the rural town of Penjamillo, Michoacán, who appears as both narrator and protagonist in the documentary 'Jaripeo.'

Rebecca Zweig

Co-director of the documentary 'Jaripeo' who first encountered Mojica in Seattle's punk scene and was invited by him to spend Christmas in Michoacán in 2018.

Arturo Calderón

A local rodeo clown known as 'La Pirinola' who performs in drag and is featured in the documentary.

Joseph Cerda Bañales

A bearded makeup artist who brandishes long stiletto nails to the rodeos and was unfortunately denied entry to the U.S. for the Sundance premiere.

Noé Margarito Zaragoza

A dashing and stoic ranchero who lives discreetly as a gay man and is featured in flirtatious moments with Mojica in the film.

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What they’re saying

“It's exciting, but at the same time I'm a little nervous. Part of my family doesn't know what's going on with my life, so I don't know how they're going to take it. But my main family members — my siblings, my dad — well, they feel content and happy [for me], so I'm going forward and giving it my all.”

— Noé Margarito Zaragoza (latimes.com)

“We have to deal with these issues in our towns, and [people] are still not open to receiving that kind of help. So let's hope [the movie is] a success.”

— Noé Margarito Zaragoza (latimes.com)

“What was the reception from your family after seeing the film?”

— Audience member (latimes.com)

“It's the 21st century!”

— Mrs. Mojica Rubio, Efraín Mojica's mother (latimes.com)

What’s next

The film 'Jaripeo' is expected to continue its festival run and seek wider distribution after its successful Sundance premiere.

The takeaway

Despite increasing hostility towards LGBTQ people and immigrants in the U.S., 'Jaripeo' showcases the strength of community, family, and love that transcends borders and challenges preconceived notions about queer life in Mexico. The film's premiere at Sundance affirms the power of queer cinema and documentaries to amplify underrepresented voices.