Brandon Maxwell Tapped To Direct Chicano Music Fest Doc - Feat. Lil One, Conejo, Tierra, Baby Bash, Temptations 🍿
The film will also incorporate rare and previously unseen footage from past Chicano Music Festivals.
Los Angeles, CA — The story behind one of the most popular West Coast cultural music events is headed to digital screens.
Brandon Loran Maxwell, the award winning indie director behind American Homeboy (Apple TV) and Defiant History (Tubi), along with his multimedia company Chela Media, has been tapped to produce the official documentary about the annual Chicano Music Festival.
The documentary short, currently untitled, will chronicle the festival’s powerful role in preserving and celebrating Chicano musical heritage, featuring an extraordinary lineup that spans soul, R&B, and West Coast hip hop.
This year’s festival includes pioneering hip hop artists Conejo, Baby Bash and Mr. Lil One, alongside legendary acts such as The Temptations, Tierra Legacy, The Delfonics, Los Yesterdays, Cadetes De Linares, Sonora Dinamita, Second Chance, Irene Diaz, and more.
Mr. Lil One, the organizer behind the festival, is a respected voice in West Coast hip hop and Chicano music culture with a career spanning more than three decades.
Beyond capturing performances, the film will incorporate rare and previously unseen footage from past Chicano Music Festivals, tracing the event’s history and its enduring impact on generations of artists and fans.
The documentary aims to serve as both a cultural time capsule and a celebration of a living tradition that continues to shape music.
“Chicano music is the soundtrack to many of our lives,” said Maxwell. “This documentary is about honoring that legacy while showing how it continues to evolve against a backdrop of political uncertainty.”
Brandon says the documentary is currently in pre-production and expected to appear on both Daily Chela YouTube and major streaming services by early 2027.
Brandon is a writer, filmmaker, and entrepreneur known for exploring the intersection between politics and culture.
Held annually, the Chicano Music Festival celebrates the rich and diverse musical contributions of the Chicano community, bringing together legendary performers, contemporary artists, and audiences from across generations.
The Chicano Music Festival will take place June 7, 2025, at La Plaza de Cultura & Arts in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets can be purchased online.
For film inquiries, contact here.