UP BEFORE DAWN - DOCUMENTARY
Each October, in the early hours before sunrise, a quiet city wakes to fire and color. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the largest ballooning event in the world, is a spectacle of flight, but it’s the people on the ground who give the event its soul. Up Before Dawn is a short documentary that peels back the vibrant exterior of the 53rd Balloon Fiesta to reveal the intimate, human stories at its core. Through a blend of verité cinematography, personal interviews, and immersive sound design, the film captures a vivid mosaic of perspectives: a veteran pilot reflecting on decades of tradition; a son carrying the tradition his father started; a local family experiencing the magic for the first time; and the tireless ground crews chasing balloons across the desert. This is not just a portrait of an event; it's a love letter to Albuquerque, its community, and the enduring power of shared wonder.
Since moving to Albuquerque in 2015, October has always been one of my favorite months. Being able to witness hundreds of balloons filling the sky while driving to work, or seeing them up close and personal, never really got old. There was something magical about it.
Fast forward 10 years, and I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to document the Fiesta from a documentary filmmaker’s perspective.
With a media access pass in hand, I knew I needed a small team to help me capture all the moving parts. It was a no-brainer when I started thinking about who I wanted by my side.
I hit up my best friend, Andrew Holguin (@shakaho), to be the still photographer. Andrew and I have worked on other projects together since becoming friends in 2020, and he has always been my go-to photographer. His natural eye for capturing people in their element, along with his passion for photography, was exactly what I wanted for this project.
Most of the time when I film my documentaries, I’m directing and shooting solo. This time, I knew I needed another videographer to help capture different angles and bring another perspective to the story. Allonzo Armijo (@vivo.collective) has a natural talent for documentary work and storytelling, so I knew he would fit in perfectly on this project.
After nine days of filming and four interviews, I needed a talented editor who could take all that footage and turn it into a cohesive short documentary. Paul J. Lopez (@awkwardpaul_) was the one for the job. I’ve trusted Paul with my other documentaries, and they always go above and beyond with the edits.
When it came to the story, I wanted to focus on the people who make the Fiesta possible.
I wanted to hear from a veteran pilot who has experienced the Fiesta year after year and understand what keeps bringing them back. I wanted to hear from a crew chief about the work that goes on behind the scenes to make sure the pilot and balloon are ready for liftoff.
I also wanted to capture the experience of seeing the Fiesta for the first time. I was an adult the first time I experienced the Balloon Fiesta, so I wanted to highlight a young family with children and see the event through their eyes.
I was lucky enough to find the perfect subjects who were willing to open up and share their stories.
With the team assembled and nine days planned out, it was time to capture the Fiesta.
I prepared my body for 3:30 a.m. call times, cold mornings, long days, and thousands of people gathering to experience the colorful sky above Albuquerque. Every morning I stepped onto the field, I was still in awe.
Some days the weather was perfect and the balloons filled the sky. Other days, the weather wasn’t on our side and the balloons had to stay grounded. But regardless of the weather, the balloons launched; every day gave us something different to capture.
A year and six cuts later, I’m happy to say the documentary is finally ready to be seen.
Watch the trailer below and get a first look at Up Before Dawn.
The full documentary will be released on Friday, October 2, 2026.
If you want to watch the full film when it’s released, sign up below and I’ll send you the link directly when it’s available.
I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed making it.
