Award-winning documentary filmmaker calls for patience, discipline, and trust in real stories

MONTERREY, MX / ACCESS Newswire / February 4, 2026 / Award-winning documentary director and producer Bernardo Arsuaga Cardenas is raising awareness about the growing need to protect and support long-form documentary storytelling in an era driven by speed, short attention spans, and surface-level content.

Drawing from more than a decade of experience directing and producing internationally recognized documentaries, Arsuaga Cardenas is advocating for a renewed commitment to depth, structure, and patience in filmmaking.

"In filmmaking, my goal has always been simple," Arsuaga Cardenas said. "I want people to sit down, forget about themselves, and enjoy a story. That only happens when you give the story time to breathe."

Why Long-Form Storytelling Matters

According to a 2023 study by the Sundance Institute, documentaries with longer runtimes and strong narrative arcs show higher audience retention and long-term viewership across streaming platforms. At the same time, data from film distribution platforms shows that short-form content dominates production, while fewer resources are being allocated to feature-length documentary projects.

Arsuaga Cardenas believes this imbalance risks weakening the cultural impact of documentary film.

"Short content has its place," he said. "But some stories lose their meaning when they're rushed. Real lives and real processes don't happen in sixty seconds."

Lessons From Award-Winning Work

Arsuaga Cardenas directed The Weekend Sailor, a documentary that reached global audiences and earned major international awards. The film involved world-class sailors and featured collaboration with Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran. His second documentary, The Michoacán File, expanded into the culinary world and featured actor Danny Trejo, earning honors including the James Beard Award and recognition at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

"These films took years," he said. "They didn't happen quickly. They happened because we stayed constant and trusted the process."

He credits his background as a lawyer for shaping his approach to filmmaking.

"An idea becomes real only when you turn it into a plan," Arsuaga Cardenas explained. "Step by step, you build a path."

Creativity Requires Structure

Beyond creative vision, Arsuaga Cardenas emphasizes the importance of discipline and organization in film production. He warns against treating filmmaking as purely artistic without operational rigor.

"Creativity without structure stays unfinished," he said. "Structure is what allows creativity to survive."

Industry reports support this view. Independent film projects with clear production plans are significantly more likely to reach completion and secure distribution compared to those without defined timelines or budgets.

What Individuals Can Do

Rather than calling for industry reform, Arsuaga Cardenas encourages individuals to take responsibility for how stories are supported and consumed.

He suggests:

• Choosing full-length documentaries over short clips when possible

• Supporting filmmakers who invest time in research and production

• Giving stories attention without distraction

• Valuing consistency and craft over speed

"There is time for everything," he said. "Day by day, you build something meaningful."

A Call to Action

Arsuaga Cardenas urges audiences, creators, and aspiring filmmakers to slow down and respect the process behind meaningful storytelling.

"Never lose faith in your ideas," he said. "And don't let anyone rush you into making something smaller than it needs to be."

By choosing patience, focus, and curiosity, he believes individuals can help keep long-form documentary storytelling alive and relevant.

Media Contact:

Bernardo Arsuaga Cardenas
info@bernardoarsuagacardenas.com
https://www.bernardoarsuagacardenas.com/

SOURCE: Bernardo Arsuaga Cardenas