As part of his work to advocate for Latino inclusion in Hollywood, U.S. Rep…. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) has recommended that crime dramas “Blood in, blood out“and “American Me” will be added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry by 2024.
“Both films managed to show the humanity of the Latino community, even in characters with many flaws,” he said, although he acknowledged that the films portrayed characters as gang members, a stereotype deeply rooted in the media. “It was an exploration of a certain life. I’ve always thought that at least one of those deserves to be there.”
This is the third year the congressman has sent a letter to the National Film Preservation Board recommending a list of “Latino-driven” stories for the registry. It is part of his ongoing campaign to commemorate the ethnic group's contributions in the media and promote its continued representation in American culture.
He believes the entertainment industry is one of the biggest institutions in “creating narratives” and that its decisions to portray negative tropes are harmful.
Each year, the board adds 25 titles to the registry. So far, three of Castro's more than 50 nominations have been selected, including the biopic “Selena“Starring Jennifer Lopez, based on the life of iconic Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. For the congressman, it is still insufficient considering the artistic contributions of Latinos to cinema.
The purpose of the registry, according to its websiteThe aim is to ensure that the selected films are preserved to increase public awareness and accessibility for educational purposes. Anyone can submit a nomination.
However, according to Brenda Victoria Castillo, president of the National Hispanic Media Coalition and recently appointed member of the National Film Preservation Board, less than 5% of the 875 preserved films are Latino-themed.
“The Latino community, along with its unique films and stories, has a significant impact on U.S. cultural history, so it is essential that we preserve them for future generations,” Castillo said.
The ethnic group is one of the largest consumers of media, according to a McKinsey & Co. Report Earlier this year, the firm claimed to have the highest per capita moviegoing rate, averaging 3.3 times a year. The report found that films with a Latino producer, director or lead earned 58% more between 2013 and 2022.
However, they are historically underrepresented both behind and in front of the camera, according to two reports from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. first found that between 2007 and 2019, 3.5% of movie leads were Latino. second found that between 2007 and 2022, 3.7% of directors were of Latino descent.
Felix Sanchez, co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, said adding films from Castro's list to the registry will help families find titles told with unique cultural perspectives.
“It’s very difficult to have big numbers when you have little content,” Sanchez said. “We can only nominate what we have and the numbers are small in terms of what is possible for the registry.”
He added that the list of nominees can also be used as a tool to show the continued success of these narratives to Hollywood executives who might be wary of investing in projects.
Castro has criticized Hollywood executives for their “widespread lack” of positive representation in a 2020 campaign. Article on varieties. Praise “Blue beetle“for being the first live-action Latino superhero to be depicted in a feature film and said he looks forward to the growing number of nomination options in the coming years from audiences once those films hit the required 10-year eligibility mark.
“I hope that these contributions will receive even greater recognition,” he said.
The official list of films added to the registry will be announced in December. Public submissions for this year are closed, but nominations for the 2025 registry list are open until August 15.
Castro's list of nominations for 2024:
1. “Blood In, Blood Out” (1993)
2. “Frida” (2002)
3. “Like Water for Chocolate” (1992)
4. “My Family” (1995)
5. “And your mother too” (2001)
6. “The Same Moon” (2007)
7. “I Am American” (1992)
8. “Tortilla Soup” (2001)
9. “The war of the bean fields of Milagro” (1988)
10. “Cesar Chavez” (2014)
11. “Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006)
12. “The Motorcycle Diaries” (2004)
13. “My Crazy Life” (1994)
14. “Instructions not included” (2013)
15. “Chicano I and II: The Mexican-American Heritage Series” (1971)
16. “The Mission” (2010)
17. “Babel” (2006)
18. “125 Franco's Blvd.” (2010)
19. “Don’t Let Me Drown” (2009)
20. “Bless Me, Ultima” (2012)
21. “Departure” (2006)
22. “We have to kick him!” (2002)
23. “Mosquita and Mari” (2012)
24. “Gun Hill Road” (2011)
25. “American Experience: Roberto Clemente” (2008)
