Evy Ledesma Galan Obituary,Death– Founder Of CineSol Latino Film And Champion of Latino Stories Has Passed Away
Latino Public Broadcasting joins the film community in profound sadness at the passing of Evy Ledesma Galan—a respected documentary filmmaker, pioneering festival founder, and steadfast champion of Latino storytelling.
My personal memories of Evy reach back to the formative days of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), where we served together on the national board. Her intelligence and commitment were palpable. That same dedication defined her prolific career as the producing partner to her husband, Héctor Galán, at Galan Inc. Evy brought depth, care, and unwavering integrity to every project, from researching PBS’s “The Forgotten Americans” to producing powerful works like “Willie Velasquez: Your Vote Is Your Voice” and the recent “Our Texas, Our Vote.”
Her filmography is a testament to a life devoted to public media, illuminating Latino art, history, and civic engagement for national audiences. She generously extended her leadership to organizations like the Austin Film Society, ensuring broader support for creators.
Beyond her national impact, Evy was a visionary community builder. In 1993, she founded the CineSol Latino Film Festival from her Harlingen family home, working pre-internet to rally filmmakers by phone and passion. She willed the festival into being, racking up long-distance bills and rallying a community through sheer belief in the power of our stories.
We extend our deepest condolences to Héctor Galán, her family, and all who were touched by her work. Evy Ledesma Galan’s legacy is one of light—light projected onto screens, light shone on overlooked narratives, and light kindled in countless filmmakers she inspired. She will be deeply missed, but her story continues in every frame she helped create.
