Saltillo celebrated one of its most influential names in contemporary culture, the producer and director Pedro Torres Castilla, who has just been recognized with the Manuel Acuña 2025 Prize, the highest cultural award given by the municipal government of the capital of the State of Coahuila. The ceremony became a declaration of local pride and an ovation for a career that has transcended Mexico to the stages of the world.
Torres Castilla not only took Mexican audiovisual production to another scale; It redefined the way stories are told for television and advertising. From the production of Big Brother, a pioneer in the reality show format in the country, to the phenomenon of Mujeres Asesinas, as well as iconic campaigns and video clips for figures such as Juan Gabriel, Luis Miguel, Alejandro Fernández, Emmanuel and Julio Iglesias, his work has shaped the visual imagination of a generation.
At the ceremony, an audiovisual production was presented that summarized decades of work with the precision of a historical archive and the emotionality of memory. There it became clear that his career is not a collection of hits, but rather a living influence on the way Mexican entertainment is projected to the world.
Figures such as Emmanuel, Lucía Méndez and the mountaineer Karla Wheelock—the first Latin American woman to conquer the Seven Summits—attended the ceremony to celebrate a creator who, according to them, opened paths where none existed. The athlete described him as someone who “learned to climb mountains, not with ropes, but with his imagination,” alluding to his ability to elevate the industry through risk and creativity.
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Director Pedro Torres Castilla is honored: the prodigal son of Saltillo receives the highest cultural award
For his part, Mayor Javier Díaz González highlighted the impact of the winner on local identity: “Pedro is perhaps one of the best examples that, regardless of the size of the stage, we never stop carrying our city in our hearts,” he stated.
Likewise, he also highlighted that the discipline, vision and audacity of the director represent the DNA of the people of Saltillo and, above all, inspire new generations seeking to make their way in global industries.
In turn, Leticia Rodarte Rangel, director of the Municipal Institute of Culture, expanded the recognition with a reflection that resonated with those in attendance: “Pedro Torres is a creator whose vision has transcended borders and whose work honors the city.”
Originally from Saltillo, Torres Castilla studied Communication Sciences at the Anáhuac University, cinematography at the London Film School and colorimetry at the Laboratoires Éclair in Paris. Its international character did not arise from chance, but from a conviction: local talent can become a global industry when training and innovation become a discipline.
Upon receiving the recognition, the director spoke with the serenity of someone who has built a long-term work: “It moves me and commits me. Thank you to those who made this moment possible.” With those words, he linked the tribute not only to his career, but to the name of the poet Manuel Acuña, whose literary heritage—as Torres suggested—also demands responsibility and memory.
The ceremony was not a closing, but a starting point. In a country where audiovisual production is experiencing a moment of international expansion, the tribute to Pedro Torres Castilla served as a message: Mexican talent not only participates in the global conversation, but shapes it.
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