February 8, 2022
A Statement from Brenda Victoria Castillo, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)
The NHMC congratulates all the artists and filmmakers today on their nominations for the 94th Academy Awards, and are encouraged by an increasing number of Latinx creatives being recognized for their achievements.
From Ariana DeBose’s recognition as the first Afro-Latino performer ever to receive an Oscar nomination (West Side Story), to Lin-Manuel Miranda, Germaine Franco and Yvett Merino’s work in Encanto, to the work of Guillermo Del Toro, Carlos López Estrada, Phil Lord, KD Davila and others, we are proud of the strides that Latinx creatives have made to bring our cultures to the global stage this year.
However there is still much more work to be done – despite being the 2nd largest ethnic group in the United States (and approximately 40% of the population in California), according to the
UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report people of color remain woefully underrepresented as both directors and writers. And, in 94 years, the Oscars have only nominated four Latinas as Best Actress. While this year is a positive step, change in the industry is still slow, piecemeal and inconsistent.
We call on the industry to continue to uplift and promote Latinx talent not just in front of but behind the camera, ensuring our stories – and the artists that tell them – are recognized for their excellence.
Yours in the Movement,
Brenda Victoria Castillo
President & CEO
National Hispanic Media Coalition
