Pancho Rodríguez Dies: Veteran Mexican Filmmaker Was 50

Mexican filmmaker Pancho Rodríguez has died at the age of 50. 

Rodríguez’s death was confirmed over the weekend by the Guadalajara International Film Festival and the Guadalajara Directorate of Culture, both of which released statements honoring the late filmmaker. 

Rodríguez was a veteran figure in the Guadalajara film industry. His best-known credits include Calling an Angel (2007), which won the Audience Award at the Guadalajara Film Festival, and The Big Wish (2017), which was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Ariel Awards. 

In a statement, the Guadalajara Directorate of Culture said it “deeply regrets the passing of filmmaker, screenwriter, and cultural promoter Pancho Rodríguez.”

The statement continued: “We recognize his invaluable contribution to Jalisco cinema and his constant pursuit of stories with identity and sensitivity, as demonstrated in his film Calling an Angel, winner of the Audience Award at the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG). Our condolences to his family, friends, and the Guadalajara artistic community. His work will endure.” 

Rodríguez’s most recent credit was the feature Abracadaver, which screened at the Guadalajara Film Festival. 

In a statement, the festival said: “The Guadalajara International Film Festival deeply regrets the passing of Pancho Rodríguez, a filmmaker from Guadalajara whose sensitivity, identity, and humor marked more than two decades of audiovisual creation..

The statement continued: “Throughout his career, he participated in various editions of the FICG, where his film ‘Llamando a un ángel’ won the Audience Award, a reflection of the affection from his viewers. His most recent work, ‘Abracadaver’, was part of the 2025 competition in the Made in Jalisco section, showcasing the enduring relevance of his creative voice. We honor his legacy and stand in solidarity with his family, friends, and artistic community.”