WATER FOR LIFE tells the dramatic story of three community leaders in Latin America who resisted government and corporate plans to divert critical local water resources to mining and hydroelectric projects.
Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) today announced the slate of long and short-form projects selected for production funding in 2025. Each year, LPB invites independent filmmakers to submit proposals for production and post-production support. Submissions are reviewed by LPB and a group of public media professionals, including journalists, independent filmmakers, and executives from national organizations.
Los Angeles, CA/September 23, 2024) – On the eve of the upcoming presidential election, acclaimed filmmaker Hector Galán takes viewers inside the largest Latino voter registration mobilization effort in Texas history, led by a new generation on the frontlines of a growing state that neither political party can afford to ignore. “Our Texas, Our Vote” traces the evolution of Texas as a Latino-majority state, examines the history of efforts to disenfranchise Latino voters, and profiles both conservative and progressive activists who are determined to increase voter participation among Texas Latinos. Produced and directed by Galán and executive produced by Sandie Viquez Pedlow, “Our Texas, Our Vote” premieres on the PBS series VOCES on Monday, October 28, 2024, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app.
Los Angeles, Calif. – Oct. 9, 2024 – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS station, and Latino Public Broadcasting present VOCES: LATINO VOTE 2024, a new documentary and collection of digital shorts examining the priorities of the politically diverse Latino electorate in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. Directed and produced by Bernardo Ruiz (as a follow up to his 2020 documentary) and produced by Andres Cediel along with Marcia Robiou, the film focuses on the key issues that will drive Latino voter turnout in some of the most hotly contested battleground states, including Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. The film also delves into the efforts both political parties are making to reach the Latino electorate in California and Florida, two states with large Latino populations. VOCES: LATINO VOTE 2024 premieres Tuesday, October 22 at 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org, and YouTube with a special early release of the documentary on Wednesday, October 9 on the PBS app. The ten digital shorts, which focus on the experiences of young, first-time Latino voters, will roll out online during October.
Los Angeles, CA/August 28, 2024 – “Mambo Legends: The Music Never Ends” introduces audiences to the New York City-based Mambo Legends Orchestra which is committed to keeping the music of the great Afro-Cuban bandleaders Machito, Tito Puente, and Tito Rodriguez alive for both long-time fans and future generations. Comprised of several former members of these legendary orchestras, The Mambo Legends provide a link to the golden era of music in New York in the early 1940s, when the Machito Orchestra fused the big band sound of popular music with the rhythms of Africa, Cuba, and Puerto Rico to create an enduring musical genre beloved around the world. Produced and directed by Mari Keiko Gonzalez and produced by Lorraine Galvis, “Mambo Legends: The Music Never Ends” premieres on the PBS series VOCES on Friday, October 4, 2024, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app.
(Pasadena, CA/July 16, 2024) In 2018, acclaimed Broadway and film actor John Leguizamo embarked on an exploration of Latino history with his Tony-nominated play, Latin History for Morons. Inspired by his quest to uncover Latino and Latina heroes and their contributions, the new three-part series, VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos, brings Leguizamo’s passion from the stage to the screen. In this series, Leguizamo takes viewers on a captivating journey, delving into both well-known and lesser-known stories of Latino history and contributions, spanning thousands of years from the Ancient Empires to the early 1970s. Through this exploration, he aims to shine a light on the rich and often overlooked history of Latinos while showcasing how Latino history is American history. Created by Leguizamo and directed by Ben DeJesus (“American Masters: Raul Julia”), VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos premieres Fridays, September 27 and October 4 and 11, 2024, 9:00-10:00 pm ET on PBS (check local listings), PBS.org and the PBS App.
New York/Los Angeles, CA (August 7, 2024) – Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined is a new documentary about the life and work of one of America’s most celebrated and influential Latina writers. Presented by American Masters and VOCES and produced and directed by Adriana Bosch, Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined features extensive interviews with Alvarez, her family, and her literary contemporaries. The film premieres Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 9pm ET (check local listings) on PBS, pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS App in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
(Los Angeles, CA/date) – A powerful look at a Salvadoran-American family caught up in the debate over immigration, “Almost American,” produced and directed by Nina Alvarez, premieres on the PBS series VOCES on Monday, August 26, 2024, 10-11:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app.
Los Angeles, CA (July 2, 2024) – The winner of numerous awards, including the Jury Award for Best LGBTQ+ Short Film at the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmakers Showcase at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, “El Paisa” will premiere as part of the 2024 PBS Short Film Festival and will be available to stream on all PBS and station digital platforms, including PBS.org, YouTube and the PBS app. The festival, which runs from July 15-26, celebrates the art of short-form storytelling and will feature 15 independent films.