Film Screening Announcement: Los Tejanos: A 500-Year History

Join us for a special screening of the award-winning feature documentary Los Tejanos: A 500-Year History, tracing five centuries of Tejano heritage from the early 1500s to the present day. (Brownsville Historical Association, 2026)

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
• Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM | Screening begins at 7:00 PM
• Location: Historic Alonso Building, 510 E. Saint Charles Street
• Admission: Free (Limited seating available)

Reserve Tickets: Advance registration is required due to space constraints. Reserve your seat at JotForm.

Sponsorship Inquiries: Contact Aubrey Nielsen.

About the Film

Expansive in vision yet deeply rooted in place, Los Tejanos: A 500-Year History reveals the resilience, influence, and enduring presence of Tejano communities across South Texas. Through oral histories, meticulous archival research, and living memories, the film honors those who have safeguarded this heritage over generations. (Los Tejanos, 2026)

From vaquero traditions to the leadership of Tejana women, the documentary illuminates a history woven directly into the economic, political, and cultural fabric of the United States. It also confronts a history marked by systematic exclusion. Tejanos did not immigrate to the United States; their ancestors were already here. In the aftermath of annexation, Spanish-speaking communities from Corpus Christi and Laredo to Brownsville and San Antonio faced dispossession and narrative erasure.

At once an act of historical reclamation and a tribute to cultural endurance, this 118-minute documentary brings long-overlooked voices to the forefront.

Production & Festival Honors

• Director: Joseph C. Stillman
• Producer: Jeri Wachter
• Key Collaborator: Tejano Erudito Richard Stillman (La Santa Cruz de la Concepcion Tejanos)
• Production Company: Important Films Media (2026)
• Runtime: 118 minutes

Los Tejanos has earned six film festival honors in 2026, including:

• Official Selection: Cannes Arts Film Festival
• Finalist (Documentary): Mexican American Film and Television Festival (MAFTF)
• Official Selection: 47th CineFestival San Antonio
• Documentary Nominee: South Texas International Film Festival (STXIFF)

Additional Upcoming Tour Dates

• September 11, 2026: South Texas International Film Festival (STXIFF) – Edinburg, TX
• September 12, 2026: Latino Educational Archival Programs (LEAP) – Houston, TX
• October 15, 2026: Webb County Historical Association – Laredo, TX

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