Congressman Castro Celebrates the Addition of Five New Latino-Led Films to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress

Congressman Castro Celebrates the Addition of Five New Latino-Led Films to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and a longtime advocate for Latino representation in media and entertainment, released the following statement to celebrate the addition of five new Latino-led films - including four of his nominations - to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress:

"For thirty-five years, the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress has worked to preserve movies with an enduring impact on American society. During this year's nomination process, my office received hundreds of suggestions from movie fans who were excited to share their favorite films. I'm thrilled that four of our nominations: Mi Familia (1995), American Me (1992), Up in Smoke (1978), and Spy Kids (2001) have been included among this year's inductions.

"I'm also pleased that the National Film Preservation Board selected Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), which features the iconic Latino actor Ricardo Montalbán. Earlier in his career, Montalbán, who was dismayed by widespread stereotypical depictions of Latinos on screen, founded Nosotros, an organization that since the 1970s has argued for greater Latino representation in media and entertainment.

"The new Latino-led films added to the National Film Registry tell complex and sometimes difficult stories, featuring Latinos as heroes and villains, hard-working immigrants and goofballs, space travelers and so much more. Together, these films represent a unique cross-section of Latino contributions to American cinema and showcase the talent Latinos bring to the screen.

"2024 is a record-breaking year for Latinos and the National Film Registry, with the most inductions of Latino and Hispanic-led films in the Registry's history. Overall, the National Film Preservation Board's 2024 selections are commendably diverse, showcasing a wide array of American communities and experiences.

"Congratulations to all the inducted filmmakers, cast, and crew for this prestigious acknowledgement of their work, and thank you to the Librarian of Congress, Library staff, and members of the National Film Preservation Board for their dedication to American history and culture."

Background

Since 1989, the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress has worked to preserve films with cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance to life in the United States. Films, which must be at least ten years old to be considered, are chosen by the National Film Preservation Board with input from media leaders and members of the public. Twenty-five additional films are added on an annual basis.

As chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressman Castro successfully advocated for the Selena Quintanilla biopic Selena (1997) to be added to the National Film Registry, arguing that the film "has become a beloved icon of Latino culture and has found widespread mainstream success, proving once and for all that Latino stories are American stories."

Following his campaign for Selena's induction, Castro has submitted annual nomination lists to the National Film Registry with input from members of the public and the filmmaking community. Over the last three years, Castro has successful nominated ¡Alambrista! (1977) and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982). More information about his work with the National Film Registry can be found here.