How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
During the pandemic, we realized how complicated and expensive it was to get rolls in Guadalajara and Mexico in general. We had to order from abroad or pay sky-high prices on Amazon. One day, it occurred to me to contact Lomography to ask what it took to become an official supplier. Everything flowed, and together with two partners, we decided to open the store. From the beginning, our mission was to bring to Mexico those rolls and products that you'd previously only seen on YouTube, and make them available to enthusiasts at the best possible price.
What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
It depends a lot on each person's role. Omar, who runs the store, enjoys connecting with customers every day, listening to their stories, learning about their needs, and solving their problems. Those of us who are behind the orders are thrilled to bring new products, knowing the community will enjoy them.
If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss?
Obviously, the films. But also something we've put a lot of effort into: photography publications that hardly ever reach Mexico. Especially editorials from the United States and Japanese photographers you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
What has been an interesting challenge that has made you rethink something about the project?
At first, we planned to be a 100% online store. But we soon realized it wasn't going to be as profitable and that the market was smaller than we thought. Plus, many people prefer the experience of seeing products in person before buying. So we decided to open a small store in Guadalajara. It was a great success: it allowed us to build a community, organize live events, and be closer to our customers and their needs.
What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
More than a store, we want Filmamento to be a meeting place: a space to socialize, share, and discuss analog photography. Our main reference points are the cafes, labs, and shops on the streets of Vietnam, where one of our partners, Salvador, lived for a while.
What place, project, or person has inspired you recently and why?
The team has very diverse interests. Some of us are drawn to the Japanese aesthetic of photographers like Tatsuo Suzuki; to others, the images that document the reality of Mexican towns and cities. This combination of perspectives is part of what inspires us to continue building Filmamento.
If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
Our idols are emerging Mexican photographers like Sara Wong, Antonio Verdín, Juan Diego Taylor, Andrea Godinez or Julio Rey. What we like most is inviting you to share your creative process and your stories at our events. ENFOCO. That's what we would do: open the space for the community to hear firsthand how they work.
If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
We would be Guadalajara: vibrant, sometimes chaotic, but always warm and full of life. A blend of tradition and modernity, where the local coexists with what comes from abroad. This is Filmamento: a space where the community meets and photography from all over the world is welcomed, with the mission of democratizing access to film so that more and more people can create with it.
Answers by Julian Camacho, founder of Filmamento Shop.
