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What If The Oscars Had a ‘Best Latino Film’ Category?
Every year, the Oscars spark conversations about representation. Latino films have had a complicated history with the Academy. Sometimes breaking through in major categories, but mostly being overlooked. But what if there was a Best Latino Film category? Would it be a step forward or just another way to keep Latino cinema in a separate lane? Let’s break it down.
Why It Could Be a Win for Latino Representation
More Latino Stories Get Recognized: Currently, only a few Latino films are nominated in major categories. Having a dedicated category would ensure that Latino cinema gets highlighted every year, similar to how the ‘Best International Feature’ category brings attention to foreign films.
It Could Encourage More Investment in Latino Stories: If such a category existed, Hollywood would have more reason to produce, promote, and distribute films centered around Latino themes. Studios tend to invest in areas where awards are prevalent.
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Latino Movies Struggle to Gain Attention: Historically, the Oscars have overlooked Latino movies in major categories. Even when movies like Roma and Argentina, 1985 snag nominations, they’re often placed in ‘Best International Feature’ instead of ‘Best Picture.’ A separate category could at least guarantee that Latino stories aren’t overlooked.
Why It Could Be a Step Back
Latino Movies Deserve to Compete in Major Categories: Instead of creating a separate award, the real goal should be to normalize Latino movies in Best Picture, Best Director, and other top categories. Otherwise, it could feel like a consolation prize.
It Reinforces the ‘Diversity Box’: The Academy loves to pat itself on the back for inclusion, but a separate category could be an easy way to say, “Look! We support Latino movies!” without actually changing Hollywood’s power structure.
What Even Counts as a ‘Latino Film’?: Would it be based on the director’s nationality? The setting? The cast? Would an American movie by a Latino director qualify? Or what about *West Side Story* (2021)? The lines could get blurry really fast.
Is There a Better Solution?
Instead of a new category, a better approach would be:
– Increasing the number of Latino voters in the Academy (more Latino voters = more nominations for Latino movies).
– Better marketing and Oscar campaigns for Latino films (visibility is half the battle).
– Stop treating Latino cinema as a niche. If a film is great, it should be in Best Picture, not just a Latino-specific category.
But since we’re playing “what if,” let’s imagine which films could have been nominated if ‘Best Latino Film’ was a real Oscar category in 2025.
The Hypothetical 2025 Best Latino Film Nominees
While only Brazil’s Ainda Estou Aqui made it into the real ‘Best International Feature’ race, many powerful Latino films were submitted by their countries. If the Oscars had a ‘Best Latino Film’ category, these could have been the frontrunners:
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El Jockey (Argentina)
A gripping thriller about a self-destructive jockey who goes head-to-head with the mafia while trying to forge his own path. Directed by Luis Ortega, this movie won the Horizontes Latinos Award at the San Sebastián Film Festival.
Ainda Estou Aqui (Brazil)
An impactful drama about Eunice Paiva, a woman whose life was shattered when her husband, a congressman, disappeared during Brazil’s military dictatorship. Directed by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries), this film won Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival.
El Lugar de la Otra (Chile)
The first fiction movie by two-time Oscar-nominated director Maite Alberdi (The Mole Agent, The Eternal Memory). This crime drama is based on a real-life case from the 1950s, where a writer killed her lover in cold blood.
Sujo (Mexico)
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, this movie follows a young man haunted by the violent legacy of his father. Directed by Astrid Romero and Fernanda Valadez (Identifying Features), Sujo is one of Mexico’s most talked-about movies of the year.
La Suprema (Colombia)
A heartfelt story about a teenage girl in a forgotten town who dreams of becoming a boxer. This film, written and directed by Felipe Olguín, won the Audience Award at the Cartagena Film Festival.
Other potential nominees:
– Peru – Yana-Wara (A powerful film about gender violence and community justice).
– Dominican Republic – Aire (A dystopian sci-fi film about the last men on Earth).
– Panama – Despierta Mam (A suspenseful drama about a mother searching for her missing daughter).
So, Should the Oscars Create a ‘Best Latino Film’ Category?
It’s complicated. A new category could guarantee representation, but also risks limiting Latino films to their own box. Latino filmmakers should be competing for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay, not just for a separate award.
Maybe the real answer isn’t a new category, it’s fixing the system so Latino films naturally get the recognition they deserve. Until then, we’ll keep imagining what could be… and hoping that the next great Latino film breaks through on its own.
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