“American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez,” directed by David Alvarado, chronicles how Valdez illuminated the Mexican-American experience on stage and screen, transforming the American cultural landscape. In 1965, Valdez created the Chicano theater company El Teatro Campesino alongside the United Farm Workers. Fourteen years later, in 1979, Valdez became the first Chicano director to have a play presented on Broadway when his play “Zoot Suit” premiered in New York; he then went on to write and direct the hit 1987 film “La Bamba.” Winner of the
prestigious Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, “American Pachuco” features extensive interviews with Valdez and is narrated by Edward James Olmos, who starred in the original production of “Zoot Suit.”
Premiering in the Festival’s NEXT section, “TheyDream” is a deeply personal autobiographical documentary that celebrates how art can become a lifeline in the wake of loss. Director William D. Caballero revisits his Puerto Rican family’s history in Fayetteville, North Carolina—interweaving new 2D and 3D animations with vérité footage, archival materials, and intimate mother-son conversations. Rooted in the death of his grandmother, the film follows Caballero’s grieving mother as her son invites her to use art to help heal. Through the unique blending of animation and miniatures, ranging from handcrafted figurines to digital rotoscoping and full 3D motion capture, Caballero and his mother literally transform themselves into their parents and grandparents—reanimating family stories with honesty, complexity, and love.
“We’re proud that these two powerful films have been selected to premiere at Sundance,” said Sandie Viquez Pedlow, Executive Director of Latino Public Broadcasting. “As those of us in the public media community contend with the ramifications of our recent defunding by Congress, it’s heartening for us to be honored this way, and we can’t wait to share the extraordinary work of filmmakers David Alvarado and William Caballero with the Sundance audience.”
“Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we give a voice to our Latino filmmakers and make sure that our stories are heard,” said Edward James Olmos, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of LPB and narrator of “American Pachuco.” “While these two films are very different, both of them celebrate how art can lift individuals and communities and bring about real transformative change.”
“American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez” will premiere on PBS as a co-presentation of VOCES and AMERICAN MASTERS in Fall 2026; “TheyDream” will premiere as a VOCES presentation, date TBA.
“American Pachuco: The Legend Of Luis Valdez” is a co-production of Insignia Films, ITVS, Latino Public Broadcasting and Firelight Media, in association with American Masters Pictures and PBS, with funding provided by the Corporation For Public Broadcasting (CPB). The film is directed, written and produced by David Alvarado and produced by Lauren DeFilippo, Everett Katigbak, and Amanda Pollak.
“TheyDream” is a co-production of Colibri Creative Media, Latino Public Broadcasting and ITVS. The film is directed by William D. Caballero and written and produced by Caballero, Brad Jones, Erin Ploss-Campoamor, and Elaine Del Valle.
About Latino Public Broadcasting
For over 27 years, Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) has been developing award-winning film and digital media that explores the history, arts and culture of Latino Americans, bringing these powerful and illuminating stories to a national audience on PBS — on TV, online and on the PBS app.
LPB projects have spotlighted Latino contributions to the arts (Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined, John Leguizamo’s Road to Broadway, Raúl Julia: The World’s a Stage); told the story of Latino icons from Cesar Chavez to Dolores Huerta, Tito Puente to Celia Cruz, Ruben Salazar to Roberto Clemente; explored history and politics through a Latino lens (John Leguizamo’s American Historia, Latino Vote 2024); and told stories from Mexico, Puerto Rico and Latin America (Water for Life, Reportero), many as part of its signature PBS series VOCES.
LPB programs have won over 130 awards, including three prestigious George Foster Peabody Awards as well as Emmys, Imagen Awards and the Sundance Film Festival Award for Best Director, Documentary. LPB has been the recipient of the Norman Lear Legacy Award and the NCLR Alma Award for Special Achievement – Year in Documentaries. Sandie Viquez Pedlow is executive director of LPB; Edward James Olmos is co-founder and chairman. Follow LPB on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram.
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Contact:
CaraMar Publicity
Mary Lugo 770 851 8190 lugo@negia.net
Cara White 843 881 1480 cara.white@mac.com