Selena y Los Dinos Director Says Mexican Culture Should Not Be Vilified

At a time when hundreds of people, largely Latinx, are being arrested and detained by ICE, seasoned documentarian Isabel Castro hopes that her upcoming film about Selena Quintanilla can be a bridge to understanding and celebrating Mexican American culture. “Selena is important to me because she always represented Mexican American identity and culture,” she told Vulture at Sundance 2025. “It’s a real reminder of the beauty and significance and importance and influence of our culture. What I hope is that people see this [film] and fall in love with her and Tejano–Mexican American culture, because it’s really something that should be celebrated and not vilified.”

Selena y Los Dinos is a documentary on Quintanilla and her family, showing intimate clips from the late singer’s life to give a more rounded view of who she was outside the stage. Since Selena’s death in 1995, her life has been at the center of several biopics, including 1997’s Selena starring Jennifer Lopez. While at Sundance, will J.Lo be stopping by the screening? “I’m not sure if she has yet because we both had premieres last night, which I think is kind of cosmic and beautiful. But if she hasn’t, I hope she does see it soon,” Castro said.

We’re back at Sundance in the Vulture Spot, where we’re interviewing the casts and creators of the year’s buzziest films. Check out the rest of our coverage from the film fest here.

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