Press Portraits for David, a cinematic activist.

I met David Hernández Palmar a few years ago while working at the Berlinale Film Festival, commissioned to photograph the section dedicated to Native and Indigenous films. From the first encounter, his presence stood out, not only as a filmmaker, but as a bridge-builder between cultures.

David has dedicated the last years of his life to the cinematic community worldwide. Through his work with the Indigenous Cinema Alliance, he supports Indigenous filmmakers and directors in bringing their stories to the international stage. He opens doors where they have long remained closed, ensuring that Indigenous voices are not only heard, but seen, felt, and celebrated.

One year, I asked him to visit me at the studio. I had envisioned a set built of color and light, framed by a backdrop painted by La Imitola. It was more than a photoshoot, it was an experiment in creating an atmosphere that resonated with his mission: vibrant, grounded, expansive. The images we made that day still remind me of his dedication and quiet strength.

What I admire most about David is his commitment to community. He is not driven by personal spotlight but by a collective vision, that cinema can be a tool for cultural survival, for dignity, and for change. He carries stories across borders, like seeds scattered into new soils, so that they may grow in places far from where they were first told.

In times where voices are easily drowned by the noise of global media, people like David remind us of what cinema can truly be: a space of resistance, remembrance, and renewal.

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