Jaripeo

Every Christmas in the Mexican town of Penjamillo, the jaripeo (rodeo) unites locals and returning U.S. migrants in a celebration of hypermasculine cowboy culture. But alongside this spectacle of ranchero machismo and bull-riding bravado, a hidden subculture of queer desire unfolds through fleeting touches, clandestine hookups in the nearby woods, and double lives that both defy and honor the region’s beloved cowboy mythology. Co-directors Efraín Mojica — a queer man from Penjamillo now living in California — and Rebecca Zweig interrogate the machismo at the event’s core. Mojica has encounters with Noé, a macho, semi-out cowboy, and Joseph, a flamboyant jaripeo superfan.

The award-winning cinematography spotlights stunning 4K images, interwoven with Efraín’s Super-8 camera footage. The two formats blend past and present, offering a unique viewpoint that’s both intimate and majestic. From the beer-soaked stands to behind the chutes, JARIPEO will take you on a dreamlike journey of memory and self-discovery.

Preceded By Short Film COWBOY
A transmasc newcomer discovers queer cowboy culture, from the gay rodeo to the dance floor, in this spirited music video.