MIAMI- Democratic Congressman Joaquín Castro from Texas has launched a public call for nominations of Latino-driven films to be considered for the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. While he has managed to get some big movies included, now it's the turn for the Hispanic public to give him a hand.
This marks the third consecutive year that Castro, one of the most prominent Latinos in Congress, has spearheaded this initiative, aiming to ensure greater representation of Hispanic stories in America's film heritage.
How to submit the movies for the National Film Registry
Members of the public can submit their suggestions via Congressman Castro's website. To qualify, films must be at least 10 years old. Castro is enthusiastic about hearing from the public about Latino films that have had a lasting impact on their lives and believes this collective effort will highlight the diversity and richness of Latino cinema.
"For over a century, Latino filmmakers have infused their talent and creativity into telling our stories on the big screen," said Castro. "As we launch our third annual call for nominations, I'm eager to hear from people nationwide about the Latino-driven movies that have significantly influenced their lives. Together, we can create an exceptional list for the Library of Congress to consider for this year's National Film Registry additions."
In 2021, while serving as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Castro successfully campaigned for the inclusion of Gregory Nava's biopic "Selena" (1997), featuring Jennifer Lopez. Subsequent years saw the inclusion of two films by Robert M. Young: "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez" (1982) starring Edward James Olmos and "Alambrista!" (1977) with Domingo Ambriz, all stemming from Castro's advocacy.
Other notable films nominated through Castro's initiative include "My Family" (1995), "Spy Kids" (2001), "Frida" (2002) starring Salma Hayek, "Maria Full of Grace" (2004) featuring Catalina Sandino Moreno, and "A Better Life" (2011) with Demián Bichir.
What is the National Film Registry?
The National Film Registry, established by Congress in 1988, aims to preserve films that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant to life in the United States. Each year, 25 films are selected to ensure the preservation of America's diverse film heritage. Despite the inclusive mandate, less than five percent of the 875 films in the registry feature Latino-driven narratives.
Through this initiative, Congressman Castro continues to champion the representation of Latino stories in national cultural preservation efforts, ensuring that the contributions of Latino filmmakers are recognized and celebrated for generations to come.
Joaquín Castro has also campaigned to include other pieces of Latino culture in the collections of the Library of Congress. This year, he managed to get Juan Gabriel's "Amor Eterno," and Héctor Lavoe's "El Cantante" among the new songs in the National Recording Registry.
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