2026 STXIFF Best Documentary Winner!

“A powerful, moving, and eye-opening documentary that explores five centuries of Tejano heritage, resilience, and cultural impact.”

—Hilda Maria Ledezma, Founder/CEO , Revival Of Cultural Arts (ROCA)

Important Films Media is proud to announce that its feature documentary "Los Tejanos: A 500-Year History" has earned four festival honors in 2026, with nominations at two of them: Official Selection at the Cannes Arts Festival; Official Selection at the 47th CineFestival San Antonio; Finalist Documentary at the Mexican American Film and Television Festival (MAFTF); and Best Documentary Winner at the South Texas International Film Festival (STXIFF).

2026 TEXAS SCREENINGS:

July 9, 47th CineFestival, San Antonio

August 1, Latino Educational Archival Programs, Houston

September 11, STXIFF - Edinburg

September 12, Latino Educational Archival Programs, Houston

September 16, Brownsville Historical Association, Brownsville

October 15, WEBB County Historical Commission, Laredo

November 7, Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio

November 8, GI Forum, Corpus Christi

With more dates and venues to be announced. 

Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Joseph C. Stillman, produced by Jeri Wachter, and executive produced by Richard Stillman, "Los Tejanos: A 500-Year History" is a sweeping 118-minute journey that begins in the early 1500s, when Spanish explorers first encountered the Indigenous peoples of South Texas, and continues through the generations that helped shape the cultural, economic, and civic identity of Texas itself.

More than a historical account, the film is a powerful recounting of the perseverance, sacrifice, family, faith, and the enduring contributions of Mexican Americans whose stories have too often remained absent from the broader historical narrative.

Developed in collaboration with La Santa Cruz de la Concepción Tejanos (SCCT) in Concepción, Texas, the film draws on oral histories, archival research, and the voices of historians, educators, artists, ranchers, musicians, and community leaders across South Texas.