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March 13, 2023
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Statement on Behalf of Brenda Victoria Castillo, President & CEO, National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) “NHMC congratulates every creative that took home an Academy Award yesterday evening. Yesterday was a historic evening for many categories, including Michelle Yeoh being the first Asian woman to win best actress, and just the second woman of color to take home best actress in the show's 95-year history.
Like our allies, while we celebrate and commend these groundbreaking moments, we also recognize that the fight for increased representation among Latines at Hollywood’s biggest stage continues. Despite being the largest among ethnic or racial minority groups, Latines are still least likely to be hired for high-skilled jobs in the film industry, whether in front of or behind the camera. Our presence can be felt throughout the industry, yet we’re sidelined when it comes to being given a seat at the table. We’re thrilled for Latine creatives like Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo del Toro, who continue to lead in their respective arenas, but we must recognize that the time to uplift more Latine creatives is now.
We are overjoyed that the film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, showcasing the strength of immigrant families was recognized for its excellence last night. We also want to remind the industry that there are countless stories from Latine writers, directors, and actors that are waiting to be told. We stand in solidarity with the incomparable Michelle Yeoh, as she said last night, “We deserve to be heard, we deserve to be seen, we deserve to have the equal opportunity so we can have a seat at the table." We challenge the industry to give us that chance so wins like Michelle’s aren’t the exception, but the norm for all communities of color.”
