Sunday night a crowd shuffled their way out of the Library Center Theatre, some wiping tears from their eyes after the emotional premiere of “Selena Y Los Dinos.”
Five-time Emmy-nominated, award-winning filmmaker Isabel Castro was at the reins of the film, which is the latest production based on the life of the iconic singer and “Queen of Tejano music” Selena Quintanilla.
“Selena Y Los Dinos” tells a story familiar to many while presenting the viewer with a unique look into the lives, personalities and history of the Quintanilla family. The project takes a fresh approach to what has been done in the past, following a 1997 feature film and a Netflix series in 2020, by telling the Quintanilla’s story through never-before-seen family archival footage.
Attendees were treated with an exciting surprise attendance of Selena’s sister Suzette Quintanilla and Selena’s husband Chris Perez. The family provided insight to the production while extending gratitude to the fans both in attendance and beyond.
“I’m extremely proud of my family. I’m forever grateful for my father for pushing us and for navigating us into this incredible life that we had,” said Quintanilla. “And I’m even more grateful for all of you and all those Selena fans who continue to keep her here.”
The family’s choice for sharing the personal footage and details that are shown in the film came through recognizing how much love still exists for Selena.
“I wanted to leave a nugget of love for the future generation that’s coming up because we realize that we are now 30 years without Selena, but her legacy is stronger than ever,” said Quintanilla. “There’s a whole new generation that’s embracing Selena and our music.”
When Castro, a Selena fan herself, was approached about the possibility of working on the film, she was immediately interested in pursuing the project. She had recently screened her first feature film “Mija” at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.
“A big theme of (‘Mija’) was how difficult it is to be a Latina musician in this industry. And right about when I released the film is when the Quintanillas decided that they were ready to tell their story,” said Castro. “I spoke to Suzette, and we just immediately hit it off, like, truly. We had a long Zoom call, we had a few Corpus Christi trips and we just connected on a really deep level and I think we all decided that we were excited to work together.”
“I felt extremely connected to her, her energy, she understood what Selena meant, she understood who we were as Mexican Americans. And I love that I didn’t have to explain anything to her,” said Quintanilla. “She got it, and plus, she was a fan so that was great.”
Perez spoke about the beauty and the struggles that came through the process of unearthing the memories contained in the archival footage.
“It was hard to share. There’s some things that you just want to hold on to and not share with everyone. It’s personal,” added Quintanilla. “It’s kind of crazy, because back in the day, I was the one that was always taking the pictures, always with the camera. And look how crazy it is that I’m sharing it with all of you so many years later.”
Selena is beloved not only for her music but also for how she embodies the challenges of navigating two cultures and the pressure that comes with it. As her father Abraham Quintanilla famously said, “We have to be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans, both at the same time! It’s exhausting!”
“I’m very proud of Selena and what she represents as a woman and, more than ever right now, a Mexican American,” said Quintanilla to a room that erupted in applause.
As many Latin Americans in the United States are rediscovering wounds of unacceptance, “Selena Y Los Dinos” is a reminder of the power of love, determination, representation and chasing your dreams.
“I was just feeling really grateful for her family to share something like that with us, especially right now, where so many of us feel so heartbroken, so rejected,” said audience member Catherine Herrera. “We do belong here.”
The evening ended with a stream of subtle tears but those of admiration, and for some, a refreshed sense of hope.
“Watching it in a room with all of you guys and feeling your energy, I could feel the love that you were aiming at the project,” said Perez. “And I just want to thank you guys for keeping her memory alive. Keep pushing the legacy forward, the music, and really from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
‘Selena Y Los Dinos’ in-person screenings
- 4:30 p.m., Jan. 28. Rose Wagner Center (Salt Lake City)
- 5:30 p.m., Jan. 31. Library Center Theatre (open caption)
- 4:00 p.m., Feb. 1. Megaplex Redstone – 1
Online
- 8:00 a.m., Jan. 30. – 11:55 p.m., Feb. 2.