French Legation State Historic Site Presents a Selena Birthday Week Celebration
Cine Las Americas, along with local community partners, will honor of Texan icon Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s April 16th birthday at the French Legation Historic Site. We’re inviting fans and neighbors one and all for a screening of the 1997 classic SELENA and for additional programming in the lead up. These events promise nostalgia, music, and cultural appreciation as the community comes together to remember the Queen of Tejano music in the Live Music Capitol of the World.
WEBINAR
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 @ 12 PM – 1PM CT
Online
Free with RSVP
In advance of the Friday night film screening of SELENA (1997), the French Legation State Historic Site will moderate an online panel discussion with the film’s producer Moctesuma Esparza, Cine Las Americas, Texas Film Commission, and Texas Archive of the Moving Image, offering insights into Selena’s enduring legacy and the cultural significance of her real-life story and the film’s impact. The panel will give participants the chance to view additional footage and materials to further immerse attendees in Selena’s world.
RSVP
ARCHIVAL VIEWING
Friday, April 19, 2024 @ 1PM – 4PM
FREE & Open to the public
Benson Latin American Collection
Sid Richardson Hall, 2300 Red River St, Austin, Texas 78712
The University of Texas at Austin’s Benson Latin American Collection will offer a special viewing of archival materials from the Vicente and Connie Carranza collection showcasing the life of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. Materials include photographs, magazines, and ephemera of the Queen of Tejano’s performances and life.
Learn more about the Benson Latin American Collection
FILM SCREENING
Friday, April 19, 2024 @ 6PM – 10:30PM
French Legation State Historic Site
802 San Marcos St, Austin, TX 78702
FREE & Open to the public
Come on out to the French Legation Historical Site for an outdoor screening of the 1997 SELENA biopic, where together we’ll celebrate the life of Texas icon Selena Quintanilla and her enduring impact and connection with the neighborhood, Texas, and the world at large.
The evening will begin with a prescreening showcase of archival footage, offering a glimpse into Selena’s remarkable journey and the making of the iconic biopic. Guests will have the chance to view rare footage of Selena’s concerts in Texas, as well as auditions by young Texans vying for the role in the movie.
Joined by esteemed Texas organizations, the event aims to immerse attendees in Selena’s world, celebrating her musical prowess and cultural significance. The ESB Mexican American Cultural Center will provide a Selena paper doll activity free to all participants.
Adding to the festivities, local favorite Tamale Addiction will be onsite, selling their delicious tamales. Beverages, generously provided by Topo Chico and Coca-Cola, will keep guests refreshed throughout the evening. For those 21 and up, Carabuena Tequila will offer complimentary beverages, ensuring a spirited celebration. Siete will provide guests with chips, completing the movie night experience.
SELENA
A film by Gregory Nava
United States, 2023
Biography/Drama, 127 min, Color
English, Spanish, Spanglish w/ English subtitles
Starring Jennifer Lopez, Constance Marie, Jackie Guerra, Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda, Jacob Vargas, Lupe Ontiveros
Synopsis- In this biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla is born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas. Realizing that his young daughter is talented, her father begins training Selena along with her siblings and booking performances for them at small venues. As she finds success, she falls in love and asserts her independence, drawing resistance from her father. Seeking mainstream stardom, Selena begins recording an English-language album which, tragically, she would never complete.
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is the state agency for historic preservation. We save the real places that tell the real stories of Texas.
One of the oldest houses in Austin, the French Legation opened in 1841 as a home and diplomatic outpost for the French chargé d’affaires to the Republic of Texas, Alphonse Dubois, after France recognized the Republic of Texas as a sovereign nation. The site tells the story of Texas’ settlement and the growth of one of the capital city’s most vibrant neighborhoods.