Simultaneous film screenings allowed audiences in Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, to experience the same movies together across the border wall.
The Nogales International Film Festival, known as NOGAIFF and launched in 2010, held its Film on the Fence event from May 13 to 17, 2026. More than 100 films screened at the GOK Theater on the U.S. side and at Imfoculta on the Mexican side, with back-to-back setups enabling viewers to watch in real time.
Francisco Landin, managing director of the Nogales International Film Festival, described the purpose of the cross-border format.
Our kind of metaphorical goal is to erase the border through the power of film.
Documentaries including Selena Y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy and American Pachuco: The Legend Of Luis Valdez featured in the paired screenings. Organizers positioned the events to highlight shared cultural stories despite the physical separation.
Isabel Castro, creator of the Selena documentary, reflected on participating in the dual screenings.
I mean, this has been such an unbelievably moving experience.
New barbed wire additions to the wall created extra challenges for setup and visibility, according to an NPR report published May 22, 2026. Staff adjusted screen placements and audio systems to maintain clear sightlines for both audiences.
Local coverage from KJZZ and AZPM noted steady attendance on each side throughout the five-day festival. The simultaneous format allowed communities separated by the border to react together to the same scenes and stories.
