ArtistDirect News
Gregory Nava to Host Q&A at El Pasos Plaza Classic Film Festival, Receive Career-Achievement Award
Gregory Nava, the Academy Award‑nominated director of the 1997 biopic Selena and the 1983 drama El Norte, will attend the 19th Plaza Classic Film Festival in El Paso, Texas, for a pre‑screening Q&A session.
The festival, which runs from July 16 to 26, will feature screenings of Selena on Friday, July 24 at 7 p.m. and El Norte on Saturday, July 25 at 3 p.m. Both films will be shown at the historic Plaza Theatre (125 W. Mills Ave.) for a ticket price of $10. Tickets go on sale June 22 at the Plaza Theatre box office or online through Ticketmaster; festival passes are available on the festival’s website.
Nava will also be honored with the Plaza Classic Award for Career Achievement during the event. The award recognizes filmmakers whose work has had a lasting impact on cinema and whose careers exemplify artistic excellence.
In addition to the two main screenings, the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) at 201 E. Franklin Ave. will host a free showing of Nava’s 1995 film My Family/Mi Familia. The MACC screening will not include a Nava appearance.
The Plaza Classic Film Festival, organized by the El Paso Community Foundation, is the world’s largest festival dedicated to classic cinema. It offers 11 days of screenings, special guest appearances, educational workshops, and a “Local Flavor” showcase. The 2026 edition will feature 19th‑year programming that includes films from the Library of Congress National Film Registry, as well as contemporary works.
Nava’s filmography has long focused on the Mexican‑American experience. Three of his films—El Norte, Selena, and My Family/Mi Familia—were selected for the National Film Registry, underscoring their cultural and historical significance. El Norte earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 1984, and Selena was released by Warner Bros. in 1997 to positive reviews and a $35 million worldwide gross.
Selena chronicles the rise and tragic death of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla‑Pérez, with Jennifer Lopez in the title role. Lopez received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her performance. The film’s release coincided with a growing interest in Latino narratives in Hollywood.
Beyond feature films, Nava has directed the television series American Family, the first dramatic Latino family series in the United States, which earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He also co‑wrote the Oscar‑winning biopic Frida (2002) about the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
The festival’s schedule also includes a free screening of My Family/Mi Familia at the MACC, a venue that serves the local Latino community. Nava’s presence at the Plaza Theatre will allow attendees to discuss the creative process behind Selena and El Norte, as well as his broader career.
Festival organizers noted that Nava’s work has tackled topics ranging from migration to the femicides in Ciudad Juárez. The Plaza Classic Film Festival’s programming reflects this focus, offering audiences a chance to engage with films that explore the complexities of Borderland life.
Tickets for the Selena and El Norte screenings can be purchased through Ticketmaster or the Plaza Theatre box office starting June 22. For more information, festival attendees can visit plazaclassic.com or call 915‑533‑4020.
The event will bring together film enthusiasts, scholars, and community members for a celebration of Latino cinema and the enduring legacy of Gregory Nava’s work.
The festival, which runs from July 16 to 26, will feature screenings of Selena on Friday, July 24 at 7 p.m. and El Norte on Saturday, July 25 at 3 p.m. Both films will be shown at the historic Plaza Theatre (125 W. Mills Ave.) for a ticket price of $10. Tickets go on sale June 22 at the Plaza Theatre box office or online through Ticketmaster; festival passes are available on the festival’s website.
Nava will also be honored with the Plaza Classic Award for Career Achievement during the event. The award recognizes filmmakers whose work has had a lasting impact on cinema and whose careers exemplify artistic excellence.
In addition to the two main screenings, the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) at 201 E. Franklin Ave. will host a free showing of Nava’s 1995 film My Family/Mi Familia. The MACC screening will not include a Nava appearance.
The Plaza Classic Film Festival, organized by the El Paso Community Foundation, is the world’s largest festival dedicated to classic cinema. It offers 11 days of screenings, special guest appearances, educational workshops, and a “Local Flavor” showcase. The 2026 edition will feature 19th‑year programming that includes films from the Library of Congress National Film Registry, as well as contemporary works.
Nava’s filmography has long focused on the Mexican‑American experience. Three of his films—El Norte, Selena, and My Family/Mi Familia—were selected for the National Film Registry, underscoring their cultural and historical significance. El Norte earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 1984, and Selena was released by Warner Bros. in 1997 to positive reviews and a $35 million worldwide gross.
Selena chronicles the rise and tragic death of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla‑Pérez, with Jennifer Lopez in the title role. Lopez received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her performance. The film’s release coincided with a growing interest in Latino narratives in Hollywood.
Beyond feature films, Nava has directed the television series American Family, the first dramatic Latino family series in the United States, which earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He also co‑wrote the Oscar‑winning biopic Frida (2002) about the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
The festival’s schedule also includes a free screening of My Family/Mi Familia at the MACC, a venue that serves the local Latino community. Nava’s presence at the Plaza Theatre will allow attendees to discuss the creative process behind Selena and El Norte, as well as his broader career.
Festival organizers noted that Nava’s work has tackled topics ranging from migration to the femicides in Ciudad Juárez. The Plaza Classic Film Festival’s programming reflects this focus, offering audiences a chance to engage with films that explore the complexities of Borderland life.
Tickets for the Selena and El Norte screenings can be purchased through Ticketmaster or the Plaza Theatre box office starting June 22. For more information, festival attendees can visit plazaclassic.com or call 915‑533‑4020.
The event will bring together film enthusiasts, scholars, and community members for a celebration of Latino cinema and the enduring legacy of Gregory Nava’s work.