In many ways 2021 was a post-pandemic transition. It was a taste of how life would be after a year of confinement. Now, starting 2022, expectations of normalcy are even higher, just as the desire for the most affected industries, such as entertainment, to come back with full strength.

Although 120,000 jobs were lost during the first month of the pandemic, new shootings and productions began as restrictions were lifted. Premieres made a return; in fact, during the second semester some blockbusters on hold since 2020 made their debut. This gave a new breath to the cinema industry, whose salvation came in the form of streaming platforms for the last two years.

2022 starts with an awards season amid this ‘normality’, in which Latinx will have a prominent role.

A few weeks ago, the nominees to the Golden Globes were made public. Although they have faced controversy and boycotts after accusations of discrimination, they set the tone for the awards ceremony to the best of cinema.

Javier Bardem heads Latin presence in the selection, who is a nominee to best actor for his role as Desi Arnaz in the film Being the Ricardos. Despite his Spanish accent, Bardem makes a great performance of Arnaz, a Cuban musician and actor who initially had to deal with rejection by the Hollywood industry, when he along his wife Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) presented the CBS with an idea for the series I love Lucy. The series would later become a classic, even though having a multi-ethnic couple was initially rejected by the network; as it was something never seen before on TV at the time.

Disney made a comeback to the movie theaters with its animated film Encanto. A story inspired in Colombia that has had great success at the box office, and it is already shortlisted for the Oscars, and a nominee for the Golden Globes, not only for best animated film, but also for best song with “Dos Oruguitas” (Two Caterpillars), by Lin-Manuel Miranda and sung by Colombian Sebastián Yatra.

Another favorite for this season is Madres Paralelas (Parallel Mothers), by Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, which is already a nominee for best foreign film and best soundtrack at the Golden Globes. The film was not submitted by Spain for the international selection of the Oscars, but it is possible that it will be a nominee with Penélope Cruz as best actress, and Almodóvar as director.

The last ‘Latin’ feature film that stands strong is Steven Spielberg’s version of the musical from the 60s West Side Story that unlike the original version has an extensive Latin cast. It is nominated to best musical, best director and best comedy or musical actress, and best supporting actress in the Golden Globes, and it will surely receive more nominations thanks to the reputation of Spielberg in the industry.