Award-winning filmmaker and storyteller Jorge Xolalpa has signed a groundbreaking distribution agreement with Lumexx Media, paving the way for his complete eight-film canon to premiere on Apple TV+ in 2026. The multi-picture deal marks a career-defining milestone for one of independent cinema’s most daring and emotionally resonant voices, offering Xolalpa’s decade of work its first unified global streaming home.

Xolalpa is a Mexican-born, Los Angeles–based filmmaker, writer, and producer whose films explore identity, resilience, and the immigrant experience. Known for his emotionally charged narratives and minimalist visual approach, his work has screened internationally and earned accolades for authenticity and heart.

The partnership represents not only a major win for the filmmaker, but also a significant moment for contemporary Latino cinema, bringing long-overdue visibility to a body of work that blends profound humanism with gripping narrative artistry.

The collection of short and feature films spans Xolalpa’s evolution as a writer-director: a filmmaker who has consistently infused his stories with emotional realism, social consciousness, and an unmistakable minimalist visual style. Although Jorge did not attend film school, his writing and directing method have been critically acclaimed in the industry. His thematic is constantly very dark and dramatic. Jorge’s has publicly admitted that he is heavily inspired by the works of Woody Allen, David Fincher, and Darren Aronofsky.

The list of his films that are part of the distribution deal include:

Blue Line Station (2016) — A high-school couple embarks on an unexpected journey to Planned Parenthood as they face the realities of an unwanted pregnancy.

Valentina (2017) –When her daughter is kidnapped, Valentina must outsmart the system to raise the ransom money and save her child.

Sweet Caroline (2018) — A once-happy couple is thrust into psychological darkness after a devastating tragedy shatters their world.

Your Iron Lady (2020) — Inspired by true resilience, the film follows Teresa, an immigrant mother of four, who makes the brave decision to leave her abusive husband upon arriving in the U.S.

Melancolia (2021) — A hospice nurse haunted by grief struggles to care for the dying while navigating the trauma of losing her daughter in a school shooting.

Union Station (2023) — Two strangers stranded in Los Angeles confront one transformative night that forces them to reclaim their lives and face their fears.

Lolita (2025) — After serving nine years in prison, Jesús fights to reintegrate into society and regain custody of his daughter, Lolita.

Huehxolotl (2027) — Currently in pre-production for an early 2026 shoot, the epic expands Xolalpa’s cinematic universe, tapping into myth, heritage, and identity.

For Xolalpa his has been a long-awaited and well earned moment. For years, Jorge Xolalpa stayed patient. Despite doubts surrounding his work, he continued to create, refine, and believe.

His  perseverance forms the emotional spine of the announcement. Now, Xolapa feels the world will finally discover his work through this new partnership.  For Xolalpa, the moment is nothing short of a transformative.

“Partnering with Lumexx Media and Apple TV+ feels like the beginning of a new chapter,” said Xolalpa. “Every one of these films was made with heart, faith, and defiance. To see them finally brought together on a global platform is nothing short of a dream realized.”

Lumexx Media is a global entertainment company specializing in premium independent film distribution and strategic streaming partnerships. Under the new agreement, Lumexx Media and Apple TV+ will execute a coordinated international marketing campaign ahead of the 2026 premiere. The partnership cements Xolalpa’s rising prominence among contemporary Latino filmmakers whose work is reshaping independent cinema and expanding representation across global streaming platforms. 

“Jorge Xolalpa represents the fearless new wave of independent auteurs,”  echoed Lumexx Media CEO Marco Medina. “His films are deeply human and profoundly cinematic—exactly the kind of storytelling that transcends borders. We’re honored to introduce his vision to a worldwide audience.”

Xolalpa is also an author who is currently embarking on a book tour promoting his first book Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá: A Soul Suspended Between Two Worlds a raw, intimate memoir about identity, resilience, and the healing power of storytelling.

The post Jorge Xolalpa Secures Landmark Deal with Lumexx Media to Bring Eight-Film Catalogue to Apple TV+ in 2026 first appeared on .

“I’ve never been so busy,” writer/producer Luisa Leschin exclaimed.  “In one week I met with Mario Lopez in the morning and Eva Longoria in the evening and both projects are moving forward”. She is also pitching a half hour comedy with “a star” and working on another half hour single camera TV show called Sunny Days with Steven Canals (Pose) on board as executive producer. “He is so busy, and so big and he just loves this [project]. He has an overall deal at 20th and he’s taken us under his wing…how fabulous is that?,” she revealed on an interview on the IGTV Show TheTRENDTalk , via Zoom, explaining that she has never been busier in spite of sheltering in during the Pandemic.

Two weeks after the interview, Leschin received the good news about one of the projects she spoke about the interview.  The “star” that had come to her to help her develop a half hour sitcom was none-other than actress Sherri Shepherd, who plays the Principal in Netflix’s sticome Mr. Iglesias, the show where Leschin currently serves as co-executive producer.  

The pilot, Just Sherri, will be based on Shepherd’s life and family with Shepherd in the title role.  The show centers around families having to live together, especially during these times, and the emotional baggage you can’t escape because it’s sitting in your living room. 

Leschin can now add another credit to her long career as a TV writer, a career that originally began as an actress. However, she found that the roles she was auditioning for all required she have a thick Spanish accent, and most all were small roles as maids, illegal immigrants and mothers, girlfriends and wifes of gang bangers. 

She realized early on, after she co-founded a sketch group called Latin Anonymous with fellow actors Cris Franco, Armando Molina and Diane Rodriguez, that if she was ever going to play other than stereotypical roles she would have to write them herself.

Leschin applied, and was accepted to Walt Disney Television Writing Program. Soon afterward she started her career as a writer on SI Tv’s (now Fuse TV) The Brothers Garcia . From there she has worked herself from staff writer to executive producer with a career that spans over 20 year as a television writer. She currently serves as co-executive producer for Netflix’s hit show Mr. Iglesias with past writing credits which include From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series, Everybody Hates Chris, East Los High, George Lopez and many others. 

From 2016 to 2018 she was the co-executive producer for Amazon’s TV show Just Add Magic and in 2019 she was awarded the Norman Lear Writer’s Award for her writing career at the 34th annual Imagen Awards.

One of the other projects Leschin mentioned working on, is an animated project about dinosaurs. For this project she teamed up her husband, who is also a writer and her son Dario who is the artist.  She was excited to announce that right before her interview on TheTRENDTalk, a “major producer” had come on board to champion the project.

Soon we will find out the fate of the other project Leschin has in development, but for now she continues her work as co-executive producer on Mr. Iglesias, which just a month ago was renewed for a 2nd season. 

Luisa Leschin is repped by William Morris Endeavor and is managed by Inclusion.

The post EXCLUSIVE: Luisa Leschin Sells Pilot to FOX and Is Developing Projects With Eva Longoria, Mario Lopez and Steven Canals first appeared on .

Beverly Hills, CA — Legendary actor, director, producer and philanthropist Edward James Olmos is the Industry Icon Honoree at The Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors 37^th Annual Caucus Awards Dinner that will be held on Friday, November 15, 2019, 6:30 PM at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049. 

Edward James Olmos’ career in entertainment spans over 50 years. He is an Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor, and has been nominated for an Academy Award® and Tony Awards. Olmos is best known to young audiences for his work on the SYFY television series Battlestar Galactica as Admiral William Adama. Although the series kept the actor busy during its run from 2003 through 2009, it didn’t stop him from directing the HBO movie 

Walkout in 2007, for which he earned a DGA Nomination in the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television category. 

Originally a musician, Olmos branched out into acting, appearing in many small theatre productions until portraying the iconic El Pachuco in Zoot Suit. The play moved to Broadway and Olmos earned a Tony nomination for the role, which he reprised in the 1981 film version. 

Olmos went on to appear in the films Wolfen, Blade Runner, and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez before starring in that of Lieutenant Martin Castillo in the iconic 80’s television series Miami Vice. In 1988, the actor was nominated for an Academy Award® and won the Golden Globe for his portrayal of Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver. He directed and starred in his first motion picture, American Me, in 1992. 

Olmos’ passion for the arts grows every year, but he never forgets to give back to the dedicated communities that support him. He is an international advocate, spokesman, and humanitarian working with organizations such as Thank You Ocean, Project Hope Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, The Boy’s and Girl’s Club of America, The River Keepers, Dr. Andros’ Diabetic Foot Global Conference and he speaks up to 150 times a year in schools, universities, and corporations. 

Other credits as an actor include the motion pictures My Family/Mi Familia; Selena, and In the Time of Butterflies; notable television shows include The West Wing, PBS drama American Family: Journey of Dreams, and Dexter. He currently is bringing gravitas to Mayans, M.C., in its second hit season on FX networks. 

2019 Caucus Award Honorees Full List: 

Edward James Olmos | Actor/Director/Producer/Philanthropist | Industry Icon Award Gary Levine | President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks, Inc. | Executive of the Year Award Paul Miller | Producer/Director | Lifetime Achievement Award Michael Berk | Writer/Producer/Director | Distinguished Service Award Dr. Edna Sims | Publicist for The Caucus | Chairs Award Carolyn Strauss | Executive Producer | Producers Honor I HBO’s Game of Thrones, Chernobyl and Deadwood the Movie Brett Johnson | Writer/Producer | Writers Honor I Showtimes’ Escape at Dannemora Michael Tolkin | Writer/Producer/Director | Writers Honor I Showtimes’ Escape at Dannemora Amy York Rubin | Director | Directors Honor I Netflix’s Dead to Me 

James Pickens, Jr. star of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, will be the host for this wonderful evening. 

The Caucus is leading the evolution of television by providing a creative forum for Producers, Writers and Directors to explore the issues of the ever-changing landscape of content and exhibition.

Current members of The Caucus also include: Chuck Fries, JJ Abrams, Tom Hanks, Kevin Bright, James Burrows, Vin Di Bona, Loreen Arbus, Dennis Doty, Jim Hirsch, Robert Papazian, Tanya Hart, Chas Floyd Johnson, Norman Powell, Herman Rush, Sharon Arnett, and other leading producers, writers and directors. 

Follow The Caucus www.caucus.org https://www.facebook.com/caucus.org https://twitter.com/tvcaucus 

For ticket information and sponsorships opportunities, please contact Allison Jackson at caucus@allisonjacksonco.com or call 310.550.7719. 

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