EXCLUSIVE: Netflix is working on a $6M to $7M deal to acquire Selena Y Los Dinos, the Isabel Castro-directed documentary about the slain queen of Tejano Music. Other bidders are in the mix as Cinetic auctions a film that became so popular that when Sundance put it on its portal for industry to watch, the film had to be taken down so quickly became fervent fans were getting hold of clips and posting them.
Deal’s not done, but this puts a different face on the recently completed Sundance fest, because that is a high amount for a documentary. Stay tuned. The film is produced by Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, J. Daniel Torres, David Blackman, and Simran Singh.
The docu covers a look at how Selena Quintanilla and her family band, Selena y Los Dinos, rose from performing at quinceañeras to selling out stadium tours. It is a celebration of her life and legacy is chronicled through never- before-seen footage from the family’s personal archive. Her life was cut short when at 23, Selena was murdered in 1995. Yolanda Saldivar, who was president of the singer’s fan club, and who was discovered to be embezzling funds from Selena, was convicted of buying a gun and fatally shooting Selena after the family fired her and severed ties to the singer. Her death deeply shook the Latina community, and Selena remains popular. A strong documentary — this one competed in the U.S. Docu Competition — is an enticing tribute to commemorate the 30th anniversary of her death.