SAN ANTONIO — A landmark portrayal of Chicano life, a provocative coming-of-age story and an Academy-Award-winning fantasy are among the Latino-centric movies that U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro hopes are enshrined in the National Film Registry this year.
The San Antonio-area Democratic congressman revealed his final 25 nominations in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) Thursday morning, having received hundreds of submissions after issuing a call for public input earlier this summer. The registry, which "works to ensure the survival, conservation and increased public availability of America's film heritage," will announce its 2024 class in December.
"From newly eligible films to Latino cinema classics, I hope to see some of these great works preserved for years to come in the registry," Castro wrote on social media.
Castro's 2024 nominations represent a wide breadth of Latino storytelling, from historical dramas (2014's "Cesar Chavez," 2006's "Walkout") to prestige fare from visionary directors (Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth," Alfonso Cuarón's "Y Tu Mamá También"). "Babel," "Motorcycle Diaries" and "Tortilla Soup" are among his other submitted films.
For the last few years Castro has championed more Latino representation in both the national film and recording registries. His efforts have resulted the additions of the films "Selena," "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez" and "¡Alambrista!" To be eligible for the registry, a nominated film must be at least 10 years old.
See the full list of Castro's nominations below:
- "Cesar Chavez" (2014), directed by Diego Luna
- "The Milagro Beanfield War" (1988), directed by Robert Redford
- "Blood In, Blood Out" (1993), directed by Taylor Hackford
- "Tortilla Soup" (2001), directed by María Ripoll
- "Under the Same Moon" (2007), directed by Patricia Riggen
- "Walkout" (2006), directed by Edward James Olmos
- "Frida" (2002), directed by Julie Taymor
- "Like Water for Chocolate" (1992), directed by Alfonso Arau
- "Mi Familia" (1995), directed by Gregory Nava
- "Y Tu Mamá También" (2001), directed by Alfonso Cuarón
- "American Me" (1992), directed by Edward James Olmos
- "Pan's Labyrinth" (2006), directed by Guillermo del Toro
- "Motorcycle Diaries" (2004), directed by Walter Salles
- "Mi Vida Loca" (1994), directed by Allison Anders
- "Instructions Not Includes" (2013), directed by Eugenio Derbez
- "Chicano I & II: The Mexican American Heritage Series" (1971)
- "La Mission" (2010), directed by Peter Bratt
- "Babel" (2006), directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu
- "125 Franco's Blvd" (2010), directed by Sia Nyorkor and Jacob Templin
- "Don't Let Me Drown" (2009), directed by Cruz Angeles
- "Bless Me, Ultima" (2012), directed by Carl Franklin
- "Gotta Kick It Up!" (2002), directed by Ramón Menéndez
- "Mosquito y Mari" (2012), directed by Aurora Guerrero
- "Gun Hill Road" (2011), directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green
- "American Experience: Roberto Clemente" (2008), directed by Bernardo Ruiz
"Lady and the Tramp," "Home Alone," "12 Years a Slave," and "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" were among last year's inductees into the National Film Registry.