“FACING NORTH” PREMIERES ON ALL PBS DIGITAL PLATFORMS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

(Los Angeles, CA/September 22, 2017) – Facing North, a new documentary web series produced by Andrew Bracken and presented by Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB), premiered today on PBS and station digital platforms, including PBS.org and OTT platforms.  Composed of fourteen short, 2-3 minute videos, the series examines the unique relationship between the neighboring cities of San Diego and Tijuana through interviews with academics, activists, migrants, border patrol agents, entrepreneurs and historians on both sides of the border. Through this kaleidoscope of voices and perspectives, Facing North challenges our assumptions about the long-standing, complex and often tense relationship between the United States and Mexico.

In many ways, San Diego and Tijuana comprise a single region, encompassing one of the largest border areas in the world; in other ways, they are harshly divided and worlds apart.  By putting human faces on issues such as immigration, border security, global economics and history, Facing North offers a timely look at a region that copes daily with the ramifications of the increasingly strained relationship between both nations.

Interviewees in Facing North include:

Carlos, recent deportee whose daughter remains in the United States
Josue Beltran Cortez, historian at the Museo de Historia de Tijuana
James Gerber, Professor of Economics at San Diego State University
Jaime, recent deportee whose family is still in the United States
Jane Lilly Lopez, sociologist at University of California, San Diego
Greg Moran, journalist with the San Diego Union-Tribune
Friar Pat Murphy, priest who runs the Casa del Migrante, a shelter for migrants in Tijuana
Arturo Payan, retired Border Patrol agent
Oscar Romo, environmentalist and founding director of Alter Terra
Terence Shigg, National Representative of the National Border Patrol Council
Daniel Watman, activist with Border Encuentro

Facing North will be available to stream online atpbs.org and will also be available via the PBS app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku and FireTV devices.

About the Filmmaker
Andrew Bracken
is a documentary mediamaker working with audio, video, and interactive media. He is the creator, producer, and host of the KPBS podcast “My First Day.” A recipient of the San Diego Foundation’s Creative Catalyst fellowship, he has received support for his work from Latino Public Broadcasting, KPBS, and the Berlinale Talent Campus.  Facing North, about the multi-dimensional relationship between San Diego and Tijuana, won a San Diego Film Award in 2017. Other works include To The Other Side and The Two Eyes, the Nose, and the Mouth. His work has been shown locally at such institutions as the San Diego Latino Film Festival, the San Diego Art Institute, America’s Finest Film Fest, and the Digital Gym Cinema. A graduate of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, he now lives in San Diego with his wife and two mischievous kids. To learn more, visit www.andrewbracken.com.

About Latino Public Broadcasting
Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) is the leader in the development, production, acquisition and distribution of non-commercial educational and cultural media that is representative of Latino people, or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans. These programs are produced for dissemination to public broadcasting stations and other public telecommunication entities. Latino Public Broadcasting provides a voice to the diverse Latino community throughout the United States and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Latino Public Broadcasting produces the series VOCES, PBS’s signature Latino arts and culture documentary showcase and the only ongoing national television series devoted to exploring and celebrating the rich diversity of the Latino cultural experience.  Between 2009 and 2016, LPB programs won over 85 awards, including the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award as well as two Emmys, two Imagen Awards and the Sundance Film Festival Award for Best Director, Documentary. In addition, LPB has been the recipient of the Norman Lear Legacy Award and the NCLR Alma Award for Special Achievement – Year in Documentaries.  For more information, visit www.lpbp.org.

About PBS
PBS, with nearly 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 100 million people through television and nearly 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’ premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a new 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on TwitterFacebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.
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Contact:

CaraMar Publicity

Mary Lugo     770 623 8190                        lugo@negia.net
Cara White     843 881 1480                        cara.white@mac.com

About Us
Latino Public Broadcasting is the leader of the development, production, acquisition and distribution of non-commercial educational and cultural media that is representative of Latino people, or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans. These programs are produced for dissemination to the public broadcasting stations and other public telecommunication entities. LPB provides a voice to the diverse Latino community on public media throughout the United States. Latino Public Broadcasting is a registered 501(c)(3), EIN: 95-4776447.
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