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A journey through Mexico. A search for family. A story about finding where you belong.
ABOUT THE FILM
SYNOPSIS
Finding Jose is a comedy drama set between the U.S. and the heart of Mexico, following three Mexican American siblings who venture to return father's to a country they have been to in decades. The story begins at a cousin's baby shower as the siblings settle with the absence of their father a chisme is overheard revealing another secret son. Hitting the road to find the truth they connect With their outcast yet sentimental Tio lets and their rebellious and ambitious cousin Thalia. Through dusty highways, cantinas, and small-town festivals every wrong turn reveals more about who their father really Was, and Who they are Without him. Through heartbreak and absurdity, the film captures the ache of returning home to a place that no longer feels like yours.
Finding Jose explores the messy beauty of family, the guilt, the love, the secrets we bury, and the roots We can never escape. A love letter to Mexico, to the children of immigrants, and to every family still learning how to say goodbye.
DIRECTORS STATEMENT
At its core, Finding Jose is about family, the messy, loving, imperfect kind that shapes who we become. The story is built from fragments of my own life and the lives of those closest to me: memories of road trips, laughter, silence, and the unspoken ways we love each other. I wanted to make a film that feels honest, one that shows how identity is not something we choose, but something we carry with us. Life. can be full of contradiction and beauty, and holds the stories that made my family who we are.
The film takes place in Mexico, a place that continues to shape my understanding of home, it’s where my family’s stories began, and where I’ve always felt most connected and lived some of my favorite childhood memories. Through this film, I want to capture the warmth, humor, and chaos of family life, while exploring how returning home can remind us of the parts of ourselves we’ve forgotten.
TIMELINE
Finding Jose is currently in development, with the script being finalized by December 2025 alongside location scouting and applications for grants, fellowships, and investors. Casting will begin in May 2026, alongside finalizing the crew, securing filming locations, and arranging production gear. Principal photography is planned for late November through mid-December 2026, followed by post-production beginning in early 2027, with an initial cut expected by May 2027.
Filming in December is deeply intentional — many of my childhood memories come from visiting my family’s hometown of Tecalitlán, known for its mariachi festivals and vibrant community celebrations during that time of year. Those visits, filled with music, color, and family, are among the most beautiful and formative experiences of my life, and they inspire the heart of this film.
MEET THE DIRECTOR
Lisset Mendoza is a Mexican-American filmmaker from Anaheim, California. Raised in a big family with four siblings, countless cousins, and two hardworking immigrant parents, she grew up surrounded by stories. Her path into film began at eleven, when she joined a local skate crew, picking up her dad’s camera to record their adventures. What started as skate videos quickly turned into a fascination with filmmaking. By high school, Lisset had formed a small film club and started directing short projects which quickly transferred to her life in college, where she immersed herself in every part of the process; directing, editing, producing, and cinematography. While balancing two jobs, final films and another film club, Lisset never stopped following her passion for film.
Lisset Mendoza
Co-writer Director, Producer
Since then, she has directed over a mini-series, a dozen short films that have screened at various film festivals, assisted edited on projects with Breakwater Studios with The New York Times, produced a feature, and co-founded the ASCF (American Society of Cigars and Film), a nonprofit and annual film festival in Los Angeles dedicated to preserving celluloid filmmaking and supporting emerging artists. Today, Lisset continues to balance her work in marketing with her creative pursuits in narrative filmmaking. Her films often explore family, culture, and the everyday humor of growing up between worlds; capturing stories that are deeply personal yet universally understood.
PREVIOUS DIRECTING WORK BY LISSET MENDOZA
THE TEAM
GET TO KNOW MY FAMILY AND INSPIRATION
VISUAL BOARD - SCOUTING
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