‘Selena Y Los Dinos’ Celebrates Legacy, Family, and Timeless Music at AFI FEST 2025

LOS ANGELES, CA — The legacy of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez shined brightly once again at AFI FEST 2025 with an emotional and celebratory conversation following the premiere of Selena Y Los Dinos, the highly anticipated Netflix documentary directed by Isabel Castro and executive produced by the Selena’s family.

The film tells the story of Selena’s meteoric rise from her early days performing with her family band, Selena y Los Dinos, to her reign as the “Queen of Tejano Music.” Using never-before-seen home movies, concert footage, and intimate interviews, Selena Y Los Dinos paints a heartfelt portrait of a young artist whose music and spirit continue to inspire generations.

During the post-screening discussion, director Isabel Castro shared how her debut film, Miha, led her to the project. “Because of that film, I was introduced to this unbelievable family,” said Castro. “It was the craziest call I’ve ever received, and when I met Suzette on Zoom, I was just floored. This was a story I knew had to be told with care.”

Suzette Quintanilla, who spearheaded the effort to open the family’s private archives, explained why now was the right moment to share their extensive collection of footage. “Selena is a huge representation of who we are as Mexican-Americans,” she said. “She’s still relevant 30 years after her passing. There are two whole new generations discovering her, and I felt it was important to bring the capsule of what we created back to life for the future. What better way to tell that story than from those of us who lived it?”

Suzette’s decades of behind-the-scenes footage became the foundation of the documentary. “I was always the one with the camera—the big VHS on my shoulder,” she laughed. “At the time, no one imagined this would turn into a film. But I’m grateful I was that person, because now fans can see the real, joyful moments that show who we were as a family.”

Castro recalled the overwhelming process of organizing the “vault” of materials. “It was a small room, floor to ceiling with thousands of tapes, CDs, and photos,” she said. “Suzette literally gave us the keys to their history. It was daunting but such an honor to preserve and share it.”

Chris Pérez, Selena’s widower and former Los Dinos guitarist, spoke candidly about his emotional journey revisiting those memories. “Suzette called me, and of course I said yes,” he said. “We’ve always been family. Anything to further Selena’s legacy, I’m in. Watching the film tonight with everyone—it felt like I was seeing it for the first time. It’s heavy, but there’s so much beauty in it.”

When asked about their favorite Selena songs, the panelists shared heartfelt picks. Castro cited “Como La Flor” for its emotional resonance, Suzette chose “Captive Heart” for its timelessness, and Pérez smiled as he named “Las Cadenas.” “She sang the you-know-what out of that one,” he said with a laugh.

As the evening closed, the audience gave the panel a standing ovation—proof that Selena’s music and message remain alive in the hearts of fans old and new.

Selena Y Los Dinos premieres November 17, 2025, exclusively on Netflix.

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