About "Los Tejanos"
The Los Tejanos: A 500-Year History project begins with events documented as early as 1528, when Spanish explorers intermarried with indigenous peoples, and continues through conquests by the Spanish, Mexican, French, Confederate, U.S., and Texas Rangers, which created a culture of exploitation and resilience in South Texas. The feature documentary film chronicles these historical events and their impact on the people and character of the region to the present day.
Tejanos did not immigrate to the U.S.; their ancestors were already here. Yet, of the 59 men who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, only two were Tejanos. The laws of the Republic of Texas excluded Spanish speakers in this region of South Texas, encompassing the Lower Rio Grande Valley between Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Laredo, and San Antonio.
In all, the United States of North America annexed a third of Mexico's territory, and nearly 77,000 Mexicans became U.S. citizens. For generations, these citizens were plagued by prejudice and a lack of representation that would result in overt acts of discrimination, segregation, and the omission of their contributions and culture from Texas and U.S. history.
Today, Tejanos are actively reclaiming their own narratives through oral histories and extensive research, highlighting the cultural richness of their contributions. Our film brings forth previously overlooked voices, stories, and documentation that weave a complex tapestry of early South Texas Tejano lore.
Director Joseph C. Stillman, Producer Jeri Wachter, and Tejano Erudito Richard Stillman of the La Santa Cruz de la Concepcion Tejanos (SCCT) in Concepcion, Texas, are collaborating with historians, educators, archivists, musicians, artists, ranchers, policymakers, and others across the Tejano community.
The film weaves together these stories to tell the tale of the little-known origins of Tejano life and the impact that past, present, and future generations have had, and will continue to have, on Texas and the United States.
Los Tejanos: A 500-Year History is an Important Films Media production.
Help Finish Los Tejanos: A 500‑Year History
We’re raising completion funds for post‑production— color, sound mix, score, archival/licensing, and accessibility (open captions & audio description). Your contribution helps bring this landmark story to audiences.
Donate online: https://my.filmforum.org/donate/i/21 — select “Los Tejanos” from the R–Z dropdown.
Donate by check: Make payable to Film Forum, Inc. with “LOS TEJANOS film” in the memo. Mail to:
Film Forum · 209 W. Houston St · New York, NY 10014
Contributions are tax‑deductible to the extent allowed by law via our fiscal sponsor, Film Forum, Inc.
Questions or wire/DAF/matching gifts? Contact: info@importantfilmsmedia.com.
The Filmmakers
Joseph C. Stillman (Producer/Director) is an Emmy-winning producer, director, cinematographer, writer, editor, and co-founder of Important Films Media. Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Stillman brings over four decades of filmmaking experience to create substantive documentary films, motion pictures, television programming, and other video and film projects for clients worldwide. His feature documentary works include the internationally acclaimed, Citizen Clark... A Life of Principle, the story of former U.S. Attorney General and Human Rights activist Ramsey Clark, From Mills River to Babylon and Back... the Jimmy Massey Story, a film about a returning veteran from the 2003 Iraq war, and the motion picture Bear (2023), which he wrote, produced, and directed. A consummate artist dedicated to human rights and social justice, Stillman's impactful works have been seen around the globe. He is a Brooks Institute of Photography graduate in Santa Barbara, California, majoring in Motion Picture Production.
Jeri Wachter (Producer/Camerawoman) is a filmmaker, equity advocate, and former scientific publisher with a record of leading high-impact projects. Raised between New York City and rural Georgia, her feature documentary work, including Something in the Water, Rural Matters: Poverty in Other America, and Twice Upon a Time in America, explores historical and urgent social and political issues with investigative rigor, narrative clarity, and a commitment to fostering informed dialogue. Before founding Important Films Media, she co-founded and chaired William Andrew Publishing, building it into a leader in technical and scientific reference works, databases, and monographs over two decades. She also spearheaded the Workplace Equity Project, driving research and action on systemic workplace bias across scholarly publishing. Wachter has a bachelor’s degree in biology, with a minor in sociology, from Baruch College (CUNY), New York.
Richard Stillman is a Tejano Erudito and a leading advisor on the production of “Los Tejanos – A 500-year History,” due to be released in early 2026. Stillman is a founding member of the La Santa Cruz de la Concepcion Tejano (SCCT) in Concepcion, TX. Born and raised in Corpus Christi, TX, Stillman has been a rancher in Concepcion, TX, and has been an expert on the history and culture of Tejanos in South Texas for three decades.