Documenting the Latino Story: A Conversation with Emmy-Nominated Filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz

Dec 11, 2025

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*Due to technical issues, the posting of this discussion was delayed. Unfortunately, Bernardo Ruiz's showcase of his films has already passed. We urge you to check out his work via his website. Our apologies for this error.

Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz joins Mike Madrid for an intimate conversation about two decades of capturing the Latino experience on film. From his PBS documentary 'VOCES: Latino Vote 2024' to his explorations of wine country labor and journalism under siege in Mexico, Bernardo has documented the contradictions at the heart of the American relationship with Latino communities.

Bernardo discusses his journey from the son of a Mexican musician-turned-monk to becoming one of the most important Latino voices in documentary film. He shares insights from filming across eight states during the 2024 election, explains America's "love-hate relationship" with Latinos, and reveals why the same workers celebrated as "essential" during the pandemic are now being targeted at their worksites.

Key Topics Discussed:

Ruiz's unconventional path to filmmaking and what drives his work
The evolution from "building monuments to heroes" to taking creative risks
America's "love-hate relationship" with Latinos—from celebrating "essential workers" during the pandemic to today's mass deportations
Why long-form documentary storytelling matters more than ever in the age of hot takes and algorithms
The story Ruiz wishes he could have told: the deeper meaning of the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting
Why the Mexican-American diaspora needs its own "chicharron circuit" for community building
Being optimistic yet wary about the future of Latino communities in America

Bernardo Ruiz's films explore the complexity and diversity often missing from mainstream narratives about Latino Americans. His approach—observation first, conclusions later—allows him to capture the moral ambiguity and nuance that gets lost in our polarized media landscape.

Recorded November 17, 2025.

🎙️ Featuring: Bernardo Ruiz - Three News & Documentary Emmy Nominee Filmmaker: (https://www.bernardoruiz.com)

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