Selena y Los Dinos, directed by Isabel Castro, uses archival footage for a fresh view of Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla and her family band. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Cinefestival

The nation’s longest-running Latino film festival is back for a sequel.

The 46th CineFestival San Antonio will take place July 9-13, bringing dozens of feature films, documentaries and shorts to screens around the city, some free of change. Organized by the Guadalupe Cultural Cultural Arts Center, this year’s event will lead with a pair of highly anticipated feature-length documentaries focusing on Tejano music and culture.

Selena y Los Dinos, directed by CineFestival alumni Isabel Castro (Mija, Darlin) uses archival footage for a fresh view of Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla and her family band some 30 years after her tragic death.

Meanwhile, Take It Away, directed by Adrian Alejandro Arredondo and Myrna Perez, examines the legacy of TV host Johnny Canales, who become one of the most important media ambassadors for Tejano music.

 “At CineFestival, we share the pride that Selena y Los Dinos brought to the Mexican American communities of Texas and beyond, and we celebrate director Isabel Castro’s affectionate portrayal of an American icon and the family that rose to unprecedented success,” CineFestival director Eugenio del Bosque said in a statement.

“Thematically, the two great documentaries about Tejano music set the tone to a program that proudly represents the diverse tapestry that American culture and society are fortunate to be,” del Bosque added. “Family, immigration, citizenship and civil rights are also strongly represented in the program, and women filmmakers dominate a large portion of this year’s festival, including Tejana filmmakers and authors, a showcase of U.S. short films directed by women, and other national and international productions.”

This year’s CineFestival screenings will take place at the Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St., and at the Santikos Mayan Palace, 1918 SW Military Drive. Festival pass information, including a full screening lineup, are available online at guadalupeculturalarts.org/cine-festival. Individual tickets for all screenings are also available for purchase.

Other features scheduled for this year’s CineFestival include:

  • Uvalde Mom, which tells the story of Angeli Gomez, the mother who captured national attention when she rushed into Robb Elementary to save her two sons from a mass shooting.
  • Carnalismo, which depicts a family passionate about cumbias and low rider bicycles in Durango, Mexico.
  • Hola Frida, an animated feature that recreates the early life of iconic Mexican visual artist Frida Kahlo.
  • Prodigal Daughter, in which director and former punk artist Mabel Valdiviezo reunites with her family in Peru after 16 years of silence.
  • The Ladder, a science fiction story directed by CineFestival alum Emilio Miguel Torres, that examines age, second chances and morality.

CineFestival includes the Mesquite Award Nominees for Best Texas Short Film, which includes 13 narrative films and three documentaries. The fest’s Vistas de San Antonio section also highlights films made in the Alamo City, including the feature My Rocking Chair and 17 shorts.

The Texas Showcase will screen 15 shorts from across the Lone Star State representing the work of both established and upcoming young talent, while the Youth Films screenings will highlight creations from media programs around San Antonio as well as Texas and surrounding states.

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This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 9, 2025.

Sanford Nowlin is editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Current. He holds degrees from Trinity University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative...