Gregory Nava, the 2001 Hispanic Heritage Awards Honoree for Arts, stands among the most talented in Hollywood for his groundbreaking films, television shows and documentaries. As a writer and director, he has garnered top honors for his Hispanic-themed works, which have played to general audiences and earned world-wide applause.

Mr. Nava was born in San Diego, California. He attended the UCLA film school, where he made his first dramatic film about the life of Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. The piece earned the Best Dramatic Film award at the National Student Film Festival. From this auspicious beginning, Gregory launched his career as a writer and director.

Gregory’s first feature film, The Confessions of Amans, won the Best First Feature Award at the Chicago International Film Festival. In 1984, he wrote and directed El Norte, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and garnered a number of international awards. In 1996, El Norte was named an “American Classic” and designated for preservation by the Library of Congress.

In 1995, Gregory co-wrote and directed the multi-generational saga My Family/Mi Familia, which was a financial and critical success. His 1996 film Selena, based on the life of the slain Tejano superstar, was the definitive breakthrough role for Jennifer Lopez, resulting in her Golden Globe nomination. In 1999, Gregory directed American Tapestry, a documentary about the American immigrant experience. Since 2002, he has been the writer, director, and producer of the PBS series American Family.