Premieres Include AMERICAN MASTERS “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It,” LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH, New Episodes from GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET, POV and VOCES, and The 34TH HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS
ARLINGTON, VA; August 25, 2021 – To celebrate Latino heritage and culture this September and October, PBS will offer a special lineup of new and encore programs in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, including the broadcast of THE 34TH HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS.
Premieres include an AMERICAN MASTERS biography of the legendary Rita Moreno, new documentaries from POV and VOCES, and a selection of favorite soprano arias from GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET. Acclaimed chef Pati Jinich takes viewers on a cultural and culinary tour of the U.S.-Mexico border in LA FRONTERA, and this year’s annual Hispanic Heritage Awards will once again shine a spotlight on the extraordinary accomplishments of the Latino community and the lasting contributions made to our country.
“PBS is committed to providing content throughout the year that inspires greater cultural understanding and appreciation of our nation’s diversity,” said Sylvia Bugg, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming. “As part of that commitment, we are delighted to present this dynamic lineup of Hispanic Heritage Month programs that celebrate history and cultural achievements, but also provide valuable perspectives on challenges and issues facing the Latino community today.”
All broadcast and encore programs will also be available on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS Video app. Additional streaming content explores the lives of groundbreaking women, the roots of Latin jazz, the history of the word “Latino” and more.
Below is a schedule of Hispanic Heritage Month programming on PBS (check local listings):
POV “Fruits of Labor” – Monday, October 4, 10:00 p.m. ET
Ashley, a Mexican American teenager, dreams of graduating high school, but increased ICE raids in her coastal California community threaten the family’s stability since her mother is undocumented. A co-production of POV and Latino Public Broadcasting, co-presented by POV and VOCES.
AMERICAN MASTERS “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” – Tuesday, October 5, 9:00 p.m. ET
Discover how Moreno defied her humble upbringing and racism to become one of a select group of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winners. Explore her 70-year career with new interviews, clips of her iconic roles and scenes of the star on set today.
The short film “Lights, Camera, Acción” will premiere at the end of the documentary. Join Latinx actors, writers, producers, directors and showrunners across generations as they discuss the ever-evolving issue of Latinx representation in Hollywood. Featuring interviews with Edward James Olmos, John Leguizamo, Eva Longoria, Jimmy Smits and more. A co-presentation of AMERICAN MASTERS and VOCES.
THE 34TH HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS – Friday, October 8, 9:00 p.m. ET
Celebrate the recipients of the annual Hispanic Heritage Awards. The evening includes performances and appearances by some of the country's most celebrated Hispanic artists and visionaries. Honorees include Carlos Santana, Kali Uchis and more.
GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET “Three Divas at Versailles” – Friday, October 8, 10:00 p.m. ET
Enjoy sopranos Ailyn Pérez, Nadine Sierra and mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as they join forces at one of Europe’s cultural landmarks to perform favorite arias, including “Voi che sapete” from Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” and more.
LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH – Fridays, October 15 & 22, 9:00 p.m. ET
Savor the sights, sounds and flavors of the U.S.-Mexico border alongside acclaimed chef and James Beard Award-winning host Pati Jinich as she experiences the region’s rich culture, people and cuisine.
VOCES ON PBS “Letters to Eloisa” – Friday, October 15, 10:00 p.m. ET
A haunting portrait of a writer’s life and struggle for artistic freedom, this film tells the story of Cuba’s José Lezama Lima, an all but forgotten figure of the Latin American literary boom that included Gabriel García Márquez, Octavio Paz and Mario Vargas Llosa.
POV “La Casa de Mama Icha” – Monday, October 18, 10:00 p.m. ET
Decades ago, Mama Icha moved to the United States to help her daughter, but she never lost sight of her hometown of Mompox, spending years sending money to build her dream house there. Now, at the end of her life, Mama Icha returns to Colombia.
Encore Broadcasts (Check local listings. All programs are also available for streaming with PBS Passport):
VOCES “The Pushouts” – Thursday, September 23, 9:00 p.m. ET
Meet an ex-gang member who works with young people who have been "pushed out" of school.
VOCES “Adios Amor – The Search for Maria Moreno” – Thursday, September 23, 10:00 p.m. ET
The discovery of forgotten photographs prompts a search for an unsung labor organizer heroine.
VOCES “Porvenir, Texas" – Saturday, September 25, 7:00 p.m. ET
Discover the true story behind the 1918 massacre of 15 Mexican men in this tiny border town.
WEEKEND IN HAVANA – Sunday, September 26, 7:00 p.m. ET
Join Geoffrey Baer in Havana to experience the color, culture and history of the seductive city.
Streaming on PBS.org and The PBS Video App:
AMERICAN MASTERS “Jovita Idar: Mexican American Activist and Journalist”
Jovita Idar (1885-1946) helped organize the first Mexican American civil rights conference in 1911 to address racism, lynching, and dismal educational opportunities for Mexican American children.
GREAT PERFORMANCES “Roots of Latin Jazz”
Celebrate the rhythms of Latin music with the Raices Jazz Orchestra and performances by GRAMMY-winning artists, including Richard Bona and Anaadi. (Available only on PBS Passport) Hosted by Sheila E (Available with PBS Passport).
LATINOS ARE ESSENTIAL (playlist)
A collection of insightful short videos about Latinos serving as essential workers in a wide variety of jobs and services across the U.S.
ORIGIN OF EVERYTHING “Why Do We Say Latino?”
This PBS Digital Series explores the origins and intersecting histories of aspects of daily reality.
PBS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL “Joyride”
Teenage Latina sisters break their grandmother out of her assisted living facility for one last joyride.
PBS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL “Luciela”
Luciela is about a fiercely independent Latina who is determined to celebrate the 4th of July with a bang.
This collection of fiction and nonfiction short films explores a broad variety of experiences, perspectives, and points of view to highlight the diversity of the Latino/a/x community (Available with PBS Passport).
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CONTACTS:
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cara.white@mac.com; lugo@negia.net
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