Documentary Series 'Becoming Frida Kahlo' Makes U.S. Broadcast TV Debut Headlining PBS SoCal and KCET's 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Content Featuring All-New Programs for Viewers
Press Contact
JP Shields
jpshields@pmgsocal.org
747.201.5886
pbssocal.org/hh and kcet.org/hh
Select programming will also be available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App. Members of PBS SoCal | KCET get extended access through PBS Passport.
Los Angeles, Calif. – August 31, 2023 – PBS SoCal and KCET, Southern California’s flagship PBS stations, announced today a specially curated programming lineup to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) recognizing the influence and culturally significant contributions from diverse Latinx individuals; from iconic leaders to everyday heroes. The achievements and history of Latinx culture in America and local to Southern California can be seen over the course of the four-week period, with all-new installments of popular PBS series POV, INDEPENDENT LENS and AMERICAN MASTERS. Headlining the Hispanic Heritage Month slate is the U.S. broadcast TV premiere of the new documentary series BECOMING FRIDA KAHLO that offers a look into the renowned artist’s world. Kahlo is revealed to be driven by politics, power, sex and identity, along with an epic love affair with Diego Rivera at the heart of it all. The three-part series debuts Tues., Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. on KCET.
KCET Highlights
On KCET, beloved chef Pati Jinich will kick off the celebration with a special one-week marathon of fan-favorite episodes of LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH airing at 7 p.m. starting Mon., Sept. 18. October brings viewers a new season of the award-winning arts and culture series ARTBOUND with an installment that highlights Latino artist David Alfaro Siqueiros and his whitewashed Los Angeles murals in the all-new documentary “América Tropical: The Martyr Mural of Siqueiros” debuting Wed., Oct. 11 at 9 p.m. on KCET and Fri., Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal. Additional highlights on KCET include station debuts of INDEPENDENT LENS “El Equipo” and ELIADES OCHOA “From Cuba to the World” as well as encore airings of ARTBOUND’s “Con Safos” and “Arte Cósmico” documentaries, plus FINE CUT’s “Claim My Place,” all focused on celebrating Latinx culture.
PBS SoCal Highlights
PBS SoCal commences the content on Mon., Sept. 18 at 10 p.m. with POV’s “Bulls and Saints” which tracks an undocumented family who decides to return home after 20 years of living in the U.S. One day later, INDEPENDENT LENS debuts “Sansón and Me” which traces a young immigrant's path from coastal Mexico to a life sentence for murder in California. On Sept. 28 at 10 p.m., the inspirational story of SINGING OUR WAY TO FREEDOM follows musician Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez from his humble beginnings to receiving one of the nation's highest musical honors. And speaking of honors, Sept. 29 brings both the 36th Annual HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS, among the highest honors “by Latinos for Latinos” and AMERICAN MASTERS’ “A Song for Cesar” which looks at the civil rights activist who cofounded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union.
Local Events
Three local screening events will be held to commemorate the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month programming lineup.
· On Sun., Sept. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., PBS SoCal and KCET will present a screening in collaboration with LA Plaza De Cultura Y Artes in Downtown Los Angeles followed by a filmmaker panel discussion for the locally-produced UNIDAD: GAY & LESBIAN LATINOS UNIDOS, the story of the Los Angeles area’s first major Queer Latin@ organization. The film chronicles events at a pivotal time in the history of the LGBTQ equality, women’s rights and civil rights movements. More details to rsvp here. Attendees will also be given a first look at the eagerly anticipated 2024 PBS series AMERICAN HISTORIA: THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF LATINOS co-created and hosted by actor JOHN LEGUIZAMO, as well as some local content being created by PBS SoCal.
· In collaboration with LAist, the non-profit, member-supported source for stories authentic to LA, PBS SoCal and KCET will be hosting an in-person screening series of all six episodes of the new season of the original series ARTBOUND including the season’s all-new “América Tropical: The Martyr Mural of Siqueiros” about the famed artist who created Olvera Street’s white-washed mural with an innovative technique on Tues., Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. at The Crawford, LAist’s convening venue (474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105). Visit LAist.com/events for tickets and information.
· On Thurs., Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at UCLA’s James Bridges Theatre, UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television as well as the UCLA School of Law will host a screening of the INDEPENDENT LENS film “Sansón and Me,” director Rodrigo Reyes’ vibrant portrait of a friendship navigating immigration and the depths of mass incarceration. In partnership with the film team and Sansón, the nonprofit Represent Justice has collaborated to drive conversations about extreme sentencing for young people and immigrant communities, as well as the importance of values and accountability-centered approaches in filmmaking. For more details and to RSVP, gohere.
Included in the lineup of Hispanic Heritage Month are the following series, specials and documentaries that will telecast as follows (*subject to change*):
LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH – Mon., Sept. 18 thru Fri., Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. on KCET – Special Hispanic Heritage Month One-Week Presentation!
Viewers travel to the U.S.-Mexico border with the acclaimed chef and James Beard Award-winning host Pati Jinich as she experiences the region’s rich culture, people and cuisine. The series demystifies the borderland communities, sparks dialogue and discussion, as well as furthers the narrative that saturates mainstream media about border communities.
POV: BULLS & SAINTS – Mon., Sept. 18 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. on KCET - All New!
Set between the backdrop of the rodeo rings of North Carolina and the Mexican hometown that a family of undocumented immigrants longs for, the documentary film is a love story of reverse migration, rebellion and redemption.
UNIDAD: GAY & LESBIAN LATINOS UNIDOS – Mon., Sept. 18 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. on KCET
Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos was founded in 1981, only a few years before HIV/AIDS began to ravage LGBTQ communities. GLLU was the Los Angeles area’s first major Queer Latin@ organization, and the film chronicles events at a pivotal time in the history of LGBTQ equality, women’s rights and civil rights movements that shaped the destinies of GLLU’s communities.
BECOMING FRIDA KAHLO: “The Making and Breaking” (Part 1) – Tues., Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. on KCET - All New!
When an accident changes Frida's life, she channels pain and heartache into a new passion: painting. She meets Diego Rivera, and her creative and romantic dreams begin to take shape.
INDEPENDENT LENS: “Sansón and Me” – Tues. Sept. 19 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., Sept. 23 at 11 p.m. on KCET - All New!
Filmmaker Rodrigo Reyes follows Sansón, an immigrant serving life for first-degree murder, but authorities won’t allow the incarcerated young man to be filmed. In light of this, Sansón’s story is shared through dramatic reenactments of his letters, using members of his own family as actors.
ARTBOUND: “Arte Cósmico” – Wed., Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. on KCET
Latinx artists have been taking center stage at international art fairs, showing at high-end art galleries, as well as exhibiting at museums. This episode follows noted artists rafa esparza, Beatriz Cortez, Patrick Martinez, Guadalupe Rosales, Gabriella Sanchez and Gabriela Ruiz working in Los Angeles to secure their place in the story of American art as they explore notions of identity, language, immigration, queerness, religious and Aztec iconography and capitalism.
VOCES: “The Pushouts” – Fri., Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Filmed over more than 25 years ago, “The Pushouts” weaves inspiring narrative with stories of YO! Watts, a youth center serving 16–24-year-olds who are out of school and out of work. A then-and-now story of unusual intimacy and depth, the film trades narratives of tragedy and victimization for true stories of grit and resilience, highlighting the vast potential of young people to thrive when given access to meaningful opportunities and connections to adults who care.
AMERICAN MASTERS: “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It” – Sun., Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. on KCET and Thurs., Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Discover how Rita 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.
POV: “Uýra – The Rising Forest”– Mon., Sept. 25 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal - All New!
Uýra shares ancestral knowledge with Indigenous youth in the Amazon to promote the significance of identity and place, threatened by Brazil's oppressive political regime. Through dance, poetry, and stunning characterization, Uýra confronts historical racism, transphobia and environmental destruction, while emphasizing the interdependence of humans and the environment.
RISE OF THE BOLSONAROS – Mon., Sept. 25 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal
The Bolsonaros are the world's newest political dynasty and for many in (and outside of) Brazil they are extremely dangerous. This program unpacks the Bolsonaros' meteoric rise to power and the scandals that accompanied it.
BECOMING FRIDA KAHLO: “Love and Loss” (Part Two) – Tues., Sept. 26 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. on KCET - All New!
Now married and living in Depression-era USA, Frida sees the ugly side of capitalism, while political scandal engulfs Diego. Miscarriage and bereavement propel Frida to her greatest work yet.
SINGING OUR WAY TO FREEDOM – Thurs., Sept. 28 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Weds., Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Learn about the life and music of Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez, from his humble beginnings as a farmworker in Blythe, California to the dramatic moment when he received one of the nation's highest musical honors at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Chunky's arc of transformation from marginalized farm kid to charismatic social activist shows how one person can mobilize people to change the world.
GREAT PERFORMANCES: “Roots of Latin Jazz” – Fri., Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Sheila E. hosts a celebration of rhythms of Latin music with the Raices Jazz Orchestra and performances by GRAMMY-winning artists including Richard Bona and Anaadi.
36th ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS – Fri., Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Weds., Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. on KCET
Created by the White House to commemorate the establishment of Hispanic Heritage Month in America, the evening commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month includes performances and appearances by some of the country's most celebrated Hispanic artists and visionaries with recipients this year that include Café Tacvba and Omar Apollo.
AMERICAN MASTERS “A Song For Cesar” – Fri., Sept. 29 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., Sept. 30 at 9 p.m. on KCET - All New!
Trace the life and legacy of labor activist Cesar Chavez. Through interviews with Maya Angelou, Joan Baez, Carlos Santana and more, see how music and the arts were instrumental to the success of the social movement Chavez helped found, which mobilized thousands of farmworkers across the U.S.
BECOMING FRIDA KAHLO: “A Star is Born” (Part Three) – Tues., Oct. 3 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. on KCET - All New!
Dangerous politics and turbulent love shock Frida's world, while love and trauma shape her final year. As the artist's health deteriorates, her painting thrives.
FINE CUT “Claim My Place”- Fri., Oct. 6 at 10 p.m. on KCET - All New!
KCET’s regional student short film series highlights Hispanic Heritage Month with content that includes USC documentary "Bad Hombrewood" which examines the history of Latinx representation in Hollywood. A father must leave his son behind with abusive relatives in drama short "Un Día Mas Un Día Menos" from CSUN. "SHRED," a CSUN documentary, follows a group of queer Latinx skaters building a community in SoCal. Followed by animated shorts "Nido de mi Vida" from CSULB and "Cactus and the Kid" from Woodbury.
INDEPENDENT LENS “El Equipo” – Mon., Oct. 9 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., Oct. 14 at 11 p.m. on KCET - All New!
Directed by two-time Emmy nominated Bernardo Ruiz, the film focuses on Clyde Snow, the cigar-chomping, hat-wearing forensic anthropologist from Texas, whose team provided key evidence of the early 80s Argentinian military government’s torture, executions and disappearance of up to 30,000 people.
ARTBOUND: “América Tropical: The Martyr Mural of Siqueiros” – Wed., Oct. 11 at 9 p.m. on KCET / and Fri., Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal - All New!
Mexican social realist painter David Alfaro Siqueiros created Olvera Street’s popular “América Tropical” introducing an innovative and unprecedented technique to muralism that required revolutionary techniques and materials. “America Tropical” is considered the most studied white-washed mural in the United States. The mural and Siqueiros inspired many contemporary muralists working today profiled in the film including 3B Collective, Erin Yoshi and Fabian Debora (Homeboy Art Academy). The film also features commentary from Rubén Ortiz-Torres, Harry Gamboa Jr., Isabel Rojas-Williams and more.
ELIADES OCHOA “From Cuba to the World” – Sat., Oct. 14 at 9 p.m. on KCET
Documentary film traces the life and career of acclaimed guitarist and singer who rose to worldwide fame in the late ‘90s as an original member of the legendary international Cuban band, The Buena Vista Social Club. Over the decades, he has played with several folk groups and dedicated his life to celebrating and preserving the traditional folk roots of Cuban music.
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