Nuevo Leon, Mexico Feb 20, 2026  – Award – winning documentary filmmaker Bernardo Arsuaga Cardenas is highlighting a growing challenge faced by creative communities in northern Mexico: it’s becoming more difficult to sustain local stories in an industry increasingly influenced by global platforms, dwindling resources, and short attention spans.

“A good story opens doors,” Bernardo says. “But only if someone takes the time to tell it properly.”

Throughout Nuevo León and the broader region, creative workers directly experience this change. While global streaming platforms dominate distribution, many local filmmakers, editors, and storytellers struggle to obtain funding, access production facilities, and build a consistent local audience.

Bernardo has witnessed this tension up close. After working as a lawyer in Monterrey for years, he switched to documentary filmmaking in 2013. His films, such as The Weekend Sailor and The Michoacan File, have been shown internationally, yet both started as deeply local stories rooted in Mexican history and culture.

“Ideas fade away when they remain abstract,” he says. “Plans keep them alive.”

A Local Impact With Regional Consequences

In Monterrey and across northern Mexico:

• The creative and cultural industries employ hundreds of thousands of people nationwide, but many workers operate informally or on a project – by – project basis.
• Regional film production remains highly centralized, with most funding and infrastructure concentrated in Mexico City.
• Fewer than one in four independent Mexican documentaries receive continuous local theatrical or community screenings.
• Young creatives often leave their home states in search of opportunities, leading to a regional brain drain.
• Community arts spaces have decreased in many cities, restricting access to storytelling tools for new voices.

Bernardo believes this is not just an industry issue. It impacts how communities perceive themselves.

“My aim in filmmaking is to make people sit down, forget about themselves, and enjoy a story,” he explains. “When local stories vanish, people lose their reflections.”

Why This Matters Now

As audiences consume more global content than ever before, Bernardo contends that local storytelling needs intentional support.

“Finish what you start, even if it’s not perfect,” he says. “This also applies to communities.”

He refers to his own experience of premiering The Weekend Sailor at maritime venues like Forum Marinum as evidence that regional stories can resonate globally when given the opportunity.

Local Action List: 10 Things You Can Do This Week

• Attend a local film screening, talk, or cultural event.
• Share a locally made documentary or short film online.
• Follow and support a local creative on social media.
• Volunteer your skills (editing, writing, organizing) to a community arts group.
• Watch a film made in your region instead of a global release this week.
• Inquire with schools or libraries about hosting local screenings.
• Buy directly from local creators when possible.
• Recommend a local story to a friend or colleague.
• Offer a public space for a small cultural event or talk.
• Encourage young people to document their own communities.

How to Find Trustworthy Local Resources

Look for film collectives, cultural centers, universities, libraries, and nonprofit arts organizations based in your city or state. Prioritize groups that demonstrate transparent leadership, community partnerships, and consistent programming. Local festivals and public universities are often reliable starting points.

A Call to Action

Bernardo urges readers not to wait for ideal conditions.

“Time is not the enemy, fear is,” he says.

Take one local step today. Attend one event. Share one story. Support one local voice.

About Bernardo Arsuaga Cardenas

Bernardo Arsuaga Cardenas is a documentary filmmaker, producer, and post – production studio partner based in Monterrey. A former lawyer, he has directed internationally recognized documentaries including The Weekend Sailor and The Michoacan File. His work focuses on discipline, storytelling, and bringing overlooked stories to life across cultures and industries.