With his new documentary “Mufote”, Carmel Valley filmmaker Jared Jacobsen is honoring the memory of a friend, a beloved actor, artist and musician from Tijuana, Juan Francisco Gonzalez Aguilar, who went by the stage name of Paco Mufote. Considered to be a pillar of the independent theater and film scene in Tijuana, Mufote tragically passed away in 2022 at the age of 47 in a car accident while working on the Netflix production “The Chosen One”.
As the full-length documentary is set to begin its film festival run, “Mufote” will have its debut screening on Tuesday, March 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Beach Taylor Branch Library.
“I loved learning how he got his name,” said Jacobsen. While putting the film together, he learned that the name “Mufote” was a name that Juan Francisco González Aguilar created by blending his three artistic passions: música, fotografía, and teatro.
Carmel Valley filmmaker Jared Jacobsen with Paco Mufote, the subject of his new documentary “Mufote”. (Courtesy Jared Jacobsen)
Jacobsen describes Mufote as a singular artistic voice—they first met years ago when he cast him in his first short film, “The Interview” which was shot in Carmel Valley. A character actor, he was known for his ability to portray a wide range of roles and appeared in productions on both sides of the border. Jacobsen said he became one of the most recognized performers in Tijuana’s independent theater and film community, with his monologues regularly selling out small theaters.
“Over time, he learned to handle nearly every aspect of production himself — lighting, sound, wardrobe, makeup, even special effects,” Jacobsen said. “He was essentially creating entire performances on his own.”
They frequently collaborated on projects together and Jacobsen said Paco was always willing to lend a hand to help.
Following his unexpected death, Jacobsen started working on the documentary project with Tijuana playwright and actor Alan Márquez Lobato to tell Paco’s story. Jacobsen thought it would be a short film, but it evolved into a full feature-length documentary, “driven by the depth of his influence and the number of artists whose lives he touched.”
The late actor Paco Mufote in Jared Jacobsen’s “El Termino Medio”. The Carmel Valley filmmaker’s new documentary “Mufote” tells his story. (Jared Jacobsen)
“What I admired most about Paco was the way he treated people. On every set, he connected with everyone the same way — from production assistants to directors, from makeup artists to co-actors,” Jacobsen said. “ He carried that same generosity and respect into his everyday life. It seemed that you couldn’t walk down a street in Tijuana without someone running up and greeting Paco.”
“It was rare to find someone so talented who was also so grounded and kind,” Jacobsen continued. “That’s why I always told him I’d want him involved in any project I was part of.”
To view the “Mufote” trailer, visit youtu.be/1anuZirz_Bo?si=hoTzgjDkPPrhDP9z. The Pacific Beach Taylor Branch Library is located at 4275 Cass Street, San Diego.