August 19, 2025

Congressman Castro Releases 2025 Latino Film Nominations for Recognition and Preservation by the Library of Congress

San Antonio, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced his fourth annual list of Latino film nominations for consideration by the prestigious National Film Registry at the Library of Congress.

“The National Film Registry is a national treasure which preserves films of historic, cultural, and aesthetic significance for generations of audiences, filmmakers, and scholars. Over the last few years, the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) has made significant strides in recognizing Latinos’ contributions to film. I hope that inclusion in the National Film Registry continues, as Latino contributions to American culture should be appropriately celebrated,” Congressman Castro wrote in his nomination letter.

Congressman Castro’s nomination list was curated from hundreds of public suggestions on social media and through Congressman Castro’s website.

The 2025 nominations are as follows:

  1.   Chicano! (1996)
  2.   Frida (2002)
  3.   Like Water for Chocolate (1992)
  4.   Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
  5.   Under the Same Moon (2007)
  6.   Tortilla Soup (2001)
  7.   The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)
  8.   Cesar Chavez (2014)
  9.   Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
  10.   Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
  11.   Mi Vida Loca (1994)
  12.   Instructions Not Included (2013)
  13.   Chicano I & II: The Mexican American Heritage Series (1971)
  14.   La Mission (2010)
  15.   Blood in Blood Out (1993)
  16.   Babel (2006)
  17.   125 Franco’s Blvd (2010)
  18.   Don’t Let Me Drown (2009)
  19.   Bless Me, Ultima (2012)
  20.   Walkout (2006)
  21.   Gotta Kick It Up! (2002)
  22.   Mosquita y Mari (2012)
  23.   Gun Hill Road (2011)
  24.   American Experience: Roberto Clemente (2008)
  25.   Birdman (2014)
  26.   The Book of Life (2014)
  27.   Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)
  28.   A Better Life (2011)
  29.   Born in East L.A. (1987)
  30.   The Burning Season (1994)

In addition to the 30 films submitted to the nomination list released today, Castro reiterated his recommendations for films he previously submitted for consideration.

To view the full nomination letter, click here.

Background

The National Film Registry, established by Congress in 1988, seeks to preserve films with cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance to life in the United States. Every year, the National Film Preservation Board at the Library of Congress selects 25 new films for preservation in the Film Registry. Despite the Film Registry’s mandate to represent the range and diversity of American film heritage, less than five percent of the 900 inducted titles are Latino-driven stories.

In 2021, as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressman Castro successfully advocated for Selena — the 1997 biopic starring Jennifer Lopez— to be added to the registry, writing 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.” Since then, Castro has secured the addition of six films to the National Film Registry, including ¡Alambrista! (1997), The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982), Mi Familia (1995), American Me (1992), Up in Smoke (1978), and Spy Kids (2001).

In addition to his work with the National Film Registry, Congressman Castro also submits an annual list of Latino music nominations to the National Recording Registry. He expects to launch his annual call for public submissions soon.