MISSION
Because Hollywood refuses to tell mexican-american and latino stories, Dr. Ruiz Productions is dedicated to producing and empowering others to produce and distribute authentic Latino stories to audiences worldwide.
The Root of Our Mission
Because Hollywood refuses to tell mexican-american and latino stories, Dr. Ruiz Productions is dedicated to producing and empowering others to produce and distribute authentic Latino stories to audiences worldwide.
For 100 years, Hollywood has erased Mexican-Americans and Latinos from film and television. Occasionally (rarely) Mexican-American/ Latino talent is utilized in Hollywood productions, but rarely telling true Latino stories. Currently, there are almost zero Hollywood films and television projects properly representing our culture, trajectory, or contributions to America.
Without our true stories and contributions to America being shared in film and television, we will continue to allow others to categorize us in the wrong way, usually negatively.
Despite the over 40 million Mexican-Americans and a total Latino population exceeding 60 million—nearly 20% of the U.S. population- Hollywood consistently undervalues their economic power.
Hollywood often treats Latinos as perpetual foreigners—frequently prioritizing non-U.S. Spanish content while overlooking Mexican-Americans and U.S. Latinos with domestic stories. This leaves a severe gap in authentic representation across mainstream English film and television.
Yet, box office data is clear: as avid media consumers, Latino audiences show up in droves when they see themselves accurately portrayed on screen. Our films capitalize on this massive untapped potential, actively challenging stereotypes and delivering the authentic representation modern audiences demand.
How We Fulfill Our Mission
Through strategic industry initiatives, public showcases, educational media, our nonprofit wing, and our own independent filmmaking, we are actively reshaping the entertainment landscape.
Here is how we fulfill our mission across our core initiatives:
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Beyond producing events and supporting other creators, Dr. Ruiz Productions creates its own original feature films designed to showcase the Latino community in a positive, empowering light. Our independent projects have achieved theatrical releases, earned prestigious festival awards, and made a proven cultural impact—most recently highlighted by our film The Dreamer Cinderella, which achieved a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Our Buy/Rent platform dedicated to award-winning indie and Latino-led stories.
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Dr. Ruiz Productions powers the non-profit wing of MACEF behind the scenes, managing operations and securing the funding that drives its impact across the industry pipeline.
The Masters Workshop: We guide emerging Latino/a filmmakers along the path from artistic passion to a financially sustainable career. Through this intensive program, participants learn the business side of the industry and gain direct access to pitch their projects to the influential Hollywood leaders we bring to the table.
Production Grants: Financing is often the biggest barrier for independent creators. Dr. Ruiz Productions works continuously to secure the capital needed to award MACEF grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, helping bring high-impact Latino stories from script to screen.
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Organized and produced by Dr. Ruiz Productions under the MACEF banner, this annual festival serves as a premier stage for Latinx talent. We spotlight filmmakers, actors, and creators while leveraging our network to invite top Hollywood professionals, creating an invaluable networking hub where our community can make direct connections while also showcasing their amazing films.
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Often referred to as our "Latino Oscars," this red-carpet, star-studded event celebrates excellence and achievement across our film community. Dr. Ruiz Productions coordinates the entire event and secures the celebrity talent, honorees, and industry leaders for this signature evening recognizing the visionaries setting new standards for representation.
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Our podcast serves as both a stage and an educational resource for the next generation of storytellers.
Behind the Scenes & Micro-Budget Filmmaking: We pull back the curtain on the movie business, offering practical strategies to help upcoming filmmakers create compelling films—even with limited or zero budgets.
"Hollywood, We Are Coming For You": In this dedicated segment, we sit down with established Latino creators who have successfully navigated mainstream Hollywood. They share candid insights on breaking barriers, shifting the status quo, and creating lasting space for Latino representation.
Meet the Team
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Dr. Jose-Luis Ruiz
FOUNDER
Dr. Jose-Luis Ruiz, a distinguished author, professor, film producer, activist, and cosmetic dentist originally from Mexico City. Known professionally as J.L. Ruiz, he is the best-selling author of the award-winning "Irreversible Damage: The Katie Suarez Social Justice Series." His most recent publication, "The First Cowboy: The Collision of Two Great Cultures," has also been adapted into a short film. Dr. Ruiz serves as the director of the Mexican American Film & Television Festival (MAFTF) and produces The Illustrious Awards. With over 25 years dedicated to advocating for the Latino community in dentistry, Dr. Ruiz founded the Mexican American Cultural Education Foundation (MACEF). He is the author of "Supra-Gingival Minimally Invasive Dentistry" and has contributed numerous research articles to the field. As a former course director at USC, he is also a highly sought-after speaker on cosmetic dentistry.
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Yazmin Hernandez
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Yazmin is a Marketing and Business professional with dual Bachelor’s degrees from California State University, Northridge. She brings a strategic and creative approach to her work with Dr. Ruiz Productions, with a strong focus on reshaping the Latino narrative through leading strategic campaigns to garner meaningful community engagement. Passionate about representation and cultural equity, Yazmin is committed to projects that amplify authentic voices and create meaningful change. She also serves as the Marketing Director for the Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation where she fulfills the same mission to change the Latino narrative. Outside of her professional work, she’s an avid film lover and reader, always exploring stories that inspire and reflect diverse perspectives.
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ROBERT RUIZ
FINANCIAL OFFICER
A proud first-generation Los Angeles native, Rob holds a Master's Degree in Management and Human Resources from the University of Tennessee. With a career in strategic leadership roles at fast paced tech companies, his favorite career accomplishments involve championing inclusive learning and development initiatives. Outside of his professional endeavors, Rob is an active member of the Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation, where he serves as Program Director & Film Festival Manager. His role collaborating with filmmakers to promote authentic storytelling has even inspired him to embark on his own screenwriting endeavors. As a presenter at this year's film festival, he is honored to celebrate compelling narratives and amplify underrepresented voices in cinema.