The documentary “Selena y Los Dinos” was removed from the Sundance Film Festival’s online streaming platform on Friday, just hours after winning the Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling. The film, which chronicles the rise of Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla and her family band, fell victim to copyright infringement as eager fans uploaded clips to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In a statement, Sundance representatives expressed their regret and disappointment over the situation.
They emphasized their commitment to protecting the rights of independent filmmakers and ensuring they can earn a living from their art. “We take copyright infringement extremely seriously and intend to fully cooperate with local, state, and federal law enforcement,” the statement said. This marks the first time in five years that a film has been pulled from the festival’s online lineup due to piracy concerns.
selena documentary pulled from sundance
Sundance has been making select films available to credentialed viewers through its streaming site since 2018. Earlier in the day, the jury had praised “Selena y Los Dinos” for its powerful storytelling and evocative themes.
The citation read, “This award goes to a film that transported us to a specific time and place, evoking themes of family, heritage, love, and adolescence.”
Director Isabel Castro’s documentary features never-before-seen footage from the Quintanilla family’s personal archive. It made its world premiere in the U.S. Documentary competition section at Sundance. Sundance representatives assured that any ticket holder who had not yet viewed the film would receive a full refund.
The festival wraps up on Sunday, with select movies still available on the online portal through the end of the day.