About "Los Tejanos"
The “Los Tejanos: A 500-year History” project begins with events documented as early as 1527 as Spanish explorers intermarried with indigenous peoples to 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 how they have shaped the people and character of the region. 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, and 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 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 Historian Richard Stillman of the La Santa Cruz de la Concepcion Tejanos (SCCT) in Concepcion, Texas, are working in collaboration with historians, educators, archivists, musicians, artists, ranchers, policymakers and others across the Tejano community.
Brought together in the film, they tell the story of the little-known origins of Tejano life and the impact that the past, present, and future generations have had and will have on Texas and the United States.
"Los Tejanos: A 500-year History" is an Important Films Media production.
Become a Part of this Important Project! Make a Tax-Deductible Contribution: Contributions can help underwrite the costs of research, filming, editing, and distribution. Donations are tax-deductible, making your support both impactful and financially beneficial. Checks can be made out to our fiscal sponsor Film Forum, Inc., noting “LOS TEJANOS film” in the memo, and mailed to:
Film Forum 209 W. Houston St, New York, NY 10014, or make donations here: https://my.filmforum.org/donate/i/21 (see dropdown R to Z).
Contact us at info@importantfilmsmedia.com.
The Filmmakers
Joseph C. Stillman (Producer/Director) is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, 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. Stillman is a Brooks Institute of Photography graduate in Santa Barbara, California, majoring in Major Motion Picture Production.
Jeri Wachter (Producer) is a filmmaker and equity advocate dedicated to shedding light on societal challenges through the power of documentary films. Raised between NYC and the South, her work aims to inspire action and positive social change. Her film projects include Something in the Water, an award-winning documentary searching for common ground in America amid the 2020 presidential election; Rural Matters: Poverty in Other America, a powerful look at poverty in rural communities; and Twice Upon a Time in America, takes an intimate look at America under siege. Wachter has an extensive scientific and scholarly publishing background. She co-founded the Workplace Equity Project and spent two decades as co-founder and chair of William Andrew Publishing, known worldwide for its leading and seminal works. She graduated from Baruch College, CUNY, New York, NY, with a bachelor's in biology/minor in Sociology.
Richard Stillman is a Tejano Historian and a leading advisor on the production of “Los Tejanos – A 500-year History,” due to be released in early Fall 2025. 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.