SAN PEDRO CHOLULA, MEXICO — On Saturday night, the ancient streets of San Pedro Cholula became the setting for a distinctly global celebration. Inside Teatro Cholula Ciudad Sagrada, filmmakers, actors, producers, artists, public figures and cultural leaders from several continents gathered for the World Class Film Awards 2026, an evening that blended international cinema with the cultural identity of Puebla.
Held on August 8, the ceremony drew participants representing the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Nigeria and Mexico, among other nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Hosted by Rocío Plasencia and Mexican wrestler Xelhua, the program moved between award presentations, live performances and tributes to figures whose careers have left a mark across cinema, television, visual arts and independent production.
The 2026 honorees included Nicole A. Ashley, Lynn Santer, Liz Macías, John Montoya, Dean Vegas, Arlette Wembe, Sophia Romma, Bruno Llanes, Miguel Raymond, Jaya George, Thomas Whiteley, Dolapo Erinkitola, Vicentini Gomez, Brandon Glover, Kimber Leigh, Abhishek Mishrra, Cecy Rendón, Jordan Nancarrow, Le’Roy Kester, Eric Hamilton, Lois Banks and Mark Niedelson.
Among the most prominent Mexican figures recognized during the evening was actor and producer Humberto Busto, known for work including Amores Perros, El Chapo, Diablero and Oso Polar. His appearance in Cholula came ahead of a major international chapter in his career: Tijuana, todavía, which he stars in and produces, is set to have its world premiere at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival after being developed through Biennale College Cinema.
The ceremony also opened its stage to figures from Puebla’s public life whose work has contributed to the state’s cultural, artistic and global projection. Governor Alejandro Armenta Mier was recognized alongside Carla López-Malo Villalón, Víctor Gerardo Gabriel Chedraui and Natalie Hoyos López.
The event was supported by San Pedro Cholula Mayor Tonantzin Fernández and her team, underscoring the role of the host city in welcoming an international creative community to Puebla.
Mexican culture was also represented through a group of special guests chosen for their influence and their ability to project the country’s identity and creative vision beyond its borders. They included Mexican actor and entertainer Freddy Ortega, major digital creators Fer Carnal and Magdalena Bembenek, and entrepreneur Anabel Bello Cortés.
Rafael Moreno Valle Buitrón served as the ceremony’s Cultural Ambassador, taking a central role in strengthening the connection between the international guests, Puebla and Mexico.
The event also reached beyond Cholula itself. International icon Priscilla Presley participated through a special video message presented as part of her recognition, adding another international dimension to the night.
Entertainment was woven into the ceremony rather than treated as an intermission. Australian performer Dean Vegas took the stage for a live Elvis tribute, while a traditional pre-Hispanic dance presentation shifted the focus back to Cholula’s own cultural roots and history.
Behind the event was a network of supporters and collaborators that included Dr. Porfirio Ramírez Mendoza, Rafa Piccard Agency, Natura Glow, Luna de Plata Mezcal, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Hamo, Cien Fuegos, Casa Juárez, Casa Mexica and HP Publicidad, together with institutional representatives and local partners.
Directed by Sara Plasencia and Rodrigo Rayón, the World Class Film Awards 2026 presented a vision that extended beyond the trophies themselves: bringing filmmakers and cultural figures from different parts of the world into direct contact with the places, traditions and communities that receive them.
In Cholula, that idea took on particular meaning. The city was not simply a venue for an international awards ceremony; it became part of the story — a centuries-old Mexican cultural center hosting contemporary voices from across the global film and arts community.
By the end of the night, the World Class Film Awards had created a meeting point between international storytelling and local heritage, positioning San Pedro Cholula not just as a backdrop, but as an active participant in a cultural exchange reaching far beyond Puebla.
The World Class Film Awards is FilmmakerLife’s annual celebration honoring distinguished figures whose exceptional contributions are shaping the global landscape of film, art, and culture.
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