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Rafael Agustin

Award Winning Writer, Author and National Film Preservation Board Member

Rafael Agustin

Rafael Agustín was a writer on the award-winning The CW show, Jane The Virgin, is the author of the bestselling comedic memoir, Illegally Yours (Grand Central Publishing), and is a past Sundance Institute Episodic Fellow.

Rafael was the founding Executive Director of the Youth Cinema Project and the founding CEO of the Latino Film Institute. In 2018, LA Weekly named Rafael one of the fifty most essential people in Los Angeles. Also in 2018, the United Nations invited Rafael to speak at their 70th Anniversary Celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 2022, the LA Times declared Rafael a “Power Player” in their inaugural LA Vanguardia class, and in 2023, Rafael received the Spirit of Los Angeles Award from the Program for Torture Victims.

Rafael is a Board Member of National Film Preservation Board at the Library of Congress, and of Mother Jones Magazine, the oldest nonprofit investigative newsroom in the United States.

Rafael received his AA from Mt. San Antonio College, which awarded him Alumnus of the Year in 2015, and his BA and MA from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television.

Panel Information

MEDIA - Reclaiming Our Narrative: Reflecting Latino Realities in Traditional and Social Media

3:00 PM

This session will focus on how we can realign the narrative surrounding Latinos in news, television, and film to reflect the real issues and challenges our communities face. For far too long, the portrayal of Latinos has been dominated by stereotypes that misrepresent the complexity of our lives, especially on issues like immigration, healthcare, education, and social justice. Panelists will discuss concrete steps and strategies for improving Latino representation, offering specific suggestions on how the media can tell more authentic stories. This conversation will provide actionable insights on how we can move beyond harmful portrayals and ensure that our voices are accurately and powerfully represented for future generations.