Latinos at the Oscars 2022

A Statement from Brenda Victoria Castillo, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)
The Academy Awards was a monumental night for Latinx creatives. From Ariana DeBose’s historic best-supporting actress win for her role as Anita in "West Side Story" – becoming the first openly queer Afro-Latina to win an Oscar - to Encanto winning Best Animated Feature Film, to Rosie Perez finally gracing the Oscars stage once again. NHMC was delighted to witness diversity and representation on one of Hollywood’s biggest and most prestigious nights.
But we cannot ignore the fact that Latinos make up a major percentage of the box office moviegoer population, but only three Latinas have been honored with an Oscar for acting in the 94 years of the Academy Awards. Our community deserves recognition for all its creative contributions, not just honored for the same role 60 years later.
The success of these films, both at the box office and during awards season, proves that there is power in telling our stories on an international stage, and we applaud all artists, filmmakers, and everyone who helps bring these stories to life. This is a huge step forward to creating a more diverse and inclusive Hollywood. We congratulate all artists and filmmakers of color who were nominated, honored, and invited to attend the Academy Awards.
We will continue to push the entertainment industry to make greater strides in recognizing and uplifting communities that remain underrepresented and underserved until diversity is the norm in every facet of Hollywood.
Yours in the Movement,
Brenda Victoria Castillo
President & CEO
National Hispanic Media Coalition
National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is a 40+ year old 501(c)(3) non-profit, nonpartisan, civil and human rights organization that was founded to eliminate hate, discrimination, and racism toward Latino and marginalized communities.

We advance Latino visibility and influence from the halls of Washington, D.C., to the studios of Hollywood. Through our media advocacy and workforce development initiatives, NHMC creates spaces where diverse creators can connect, collaborate, and thrive. Our Series Scriptwriters Program, Latinx Stream Showcase, Creators Networking Program, Careers in Entertainment Youth Program, and Media Advocacy Fellowships serve as both incubators and pipelines, preparing the next generation of storytellers, advocates, and industry leaders. Through mentorship, education, networking opportunities, and direct access to entertainment executives, these programs help transform emerging talent into lasting industry voices while expanding authentic representation across media.

We lead the work to eliminate online hate and disinformation across media platforms. We advocate in the space of Artificial Intelligence when it intersects with civil & human rights, including making sure Latino-Interest and children’s protections are included in AI initiatives and implementations. We advocate for the Affordable Connectivity Program, Lifeline Program, Net Neutrality protections, and closing the digital divide for Latino and other marginalized communities. NHMC works in partnership with other social justice organizations to safeguard democracy in the United States of America.

NHMC is a not-for-profit, and provides equal opportunities to all individuals without regard to race, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

© 2026 National Hispanic Media Coalition // communications@nhmc.org // o. (626) 792-6462
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