10 Years of Latino Films at Sundance

These days, it seems anywhere you throw a rock, you’re likely to hit a film festival. Even in the highest altitudes of the American festivalsphere, relative newcomers like South by Southwest and Tribeca have managed to carve out their space in a what has been a boon to filmmakers and cinephiles alike. But there’s still only one original, only one name that has become virtually synonymous with American independent filmmaking and brought the world some of American cinema’s brightest stars. Any guesses? Here’s a hint: It starts with “S” and rhymes with “Fundance”.

Yeah, I’m talking about Sundance, that annual cinematic rite that each year draws pilgrims from the farthest reaches of the globe to a frozen mountaintop in a quasi-religious quest for audiovisual transcendence. Since 1984, Robert Redford’s anti-hollywood celebration of all things celluloid has shined a light on American filmmakers intent on telling personal stories and exploring new aesthetic territory. Yet, the festival has also come under criticism for catering more and more to big studios, celebrities and corporate sponsors, while boxing out the truly independent voices it once championed.

While this may only be partially true, one subset of American filmmakers hasn’t traditionally received a whole lot of love from the folks up in Park City: U.S. Latinos. Of course, since opening up its official competition to include a World Cinema category, Latin American filmmakers have cleaned up house year after year with award-winning features from Chile, Colombia, Bolivia and more. But with the shining exceptions of Robert Rodriguez’s El Mariachi back in ‘93 and Real Women Have Curves in 2002, we U.S. Latinos don’t seem to be a big priority for the festival in the awards department. In fact, some recent editions of Sundance have actually featured no U.S. Latino filmmakers whatsoever. Mathematically, that’s the 17% of the population we represent, multiplied by zero.

So, in honor of another successful edition of the world-famous, Rocky Mountain film fiesta we take a look back at some of the American Latino filmmakers that have had the honor of making it into Sundance’s elite official selection over the last ten years. And let’s hope that the next ten years sees even more directors join their ranks.

Help us grow the list by adding anyone we missed in the comments.