New Women's History Month Programs from PBS SoCal Premiere in March Including World Broadcast Premieres of 'Bella' and 'Women of Fire'
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Allison Gray
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Select programming will also be available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App. Members of PBS SoCal get extended access through PBS Passport.
Los Angeles, Calif. – Feb. 20, 2024 – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, announced today a robust programming slate in honor of Women’s History Month in March. Showcasing a lineup of 23 enlightening programs to increase awareness of women’s history in America as well as confront the most pressing issues facing women today. Featuring the 12th season of beloved PBS drama series CALL THE MIDWIFE and the introduction of the new MASTERPIECE program “Nolly” starring Helena Bonham Carter on Sunday nights, the programming lineup also looks at Hollywood trailblazers, the Royal Family and activists/artists with important stories about women who made a difference for women everywhere. Locally, PBS SoCal will be hosting the world broadcast premieres of two new documentaries that include BELLA, exploring the life of artist and activist Bella Lewitzky, as well as WOMEN OF FIRE, an in-depth look at the female candidates of the Los Angeles County Women’s Fire Prep Academy.
BELLA is about the life, influence and impact of California-based artist and activist Bella Lewitzky, a talented, strong, out-spoken individual, who dedicated her creative life to protect the rights of every American. Awarded the National Medal of Arts, Lewitzky’s life demonstrates how a “uniquely Californian” artist with vision and tenacity can change the lives of her fellow citizens. The 90-minute documentary becomes available for streaming nationwide on the free PBS App on Wed., March 6 at 9 p.m. when it is previewed locally on PBS SoCal Plus just prior to the film’s broadcast on Thurs., March 21 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal.
On Thurs., May 16, at 5:30 p.m., a community screening event for BELLA will take place as part of the Reel Art Film Series at the Brand Library & Art Center in Glendale with a post-screening discussion and Q&A with the film’s Director Bridget Murnane. The Brand Library & Art Center is located at 1601 W. Mountain St. in Glendale. Parking and admission are free. For more information, call (818) 548-2051.
Immediately following BELLA comes another world broadcast premiere, WOMEN OF FIRE is an insightful deep dive into what it takes to be a firefighter and highlights the passion of women firefighters, as well as the commitment and perseverance of perspective female candidates. Currently there are about 3,000 firefighters in LA County but as the department passes its 100th anniversary there are still less than 100 women serving in the department. The Women’s Fire Prep Academy (WFPA) is the first program of its kind and since its founding the number of female firefighters in the LACoFD has doubled. The 30-minute documentary becomes available for streaming nationwide on the free PBS App on Wed., March 6 at 10:30 p.m. when it is previewed on PBS SoCal Plus in Southern California and just prior to the film’s broadcast on Thurs., March 21 at 10:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal.
PBS SoCal Women’s History Month content also includes documentaries that highlight women who have acted as trailblazers in Hollywood, starting with the premiere of JODIE FOSTER, HOLLYWOOD UNDER THE SKIN. The program shares the life and career of Jodie Foster, starting with her beginnings as a child model and her growth into a filmmaker. Viewers can also dive into the life and career of groundbreaking writer, performer and subversive star Mae West in AMERICAN MASTERS “Mae West: Dirty Blonde.” Additionally, viewers can learn about the life and upbringing of EGOT Winner Rita Moreno in “AMERICAN MASTERS “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.”
To wrap up PBS SoCal’s month-long lineup of programming devoted to women, three programs will debut on Thurs., March 28 celebrating the women of the Royal Family. Starting with MARGARET: THE REBEL PRINCESS that tells the story of Princess Margaret whose life reflected the social and sexual revolution which redefined the image of a modern princess. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: QUEEN ELIZABETH II then follows Queen Elizabeth II’s youth all the way through her reign of over 60 years. Capping off the night is IN THEIR OWN WORDS: PRINCESS DIANA, which takes a look back on Princess Diana’s life and how she evolved to be such an impactful person.
In addition to programming in honor of Women’s History Month, on Sat., March 23 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. a free event at Culver City Middle School Multipurpose’s Robert Frost Auditorium in Culver City (4401 Elenda St., Culver City, CA 90230) in partnership with The Black Family Wellness Expo and The Links, Inc will screen PBS SoCal’s BONNIE BOSWELL PRESENTS: “Saving Moms.” Producer, reporter and host, Bonnie Boswell, serves as a local correspondent examining why groups of women disproportionately experience higher mortality rates related to pregnancy and childbirth across the country and at a local level. Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of the LA County Department of Public Health will kick off the event followed by Bonnie Boswell moderating a panel discussion featuring leading healthcare experts to be announced at a later date. The event will have raffles, giveaways and lunch and breakout health sessions, informational booths and general opportunities for attendees to learn more about health and wellness. For more information and to reserve a spot for the event visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-family-wellness-expo-tickets-850024033767.
Select content slated to air during Women’s History Month is listed as follows (*schedule subject to change):
JANE ADDAMS – TOGETHER WE RISE: AMERICAN STORIES – Sat., March 2 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus– New!
This documentary profiles Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist Jane Addams and the cadre of persistent women who joined her to enrich the lives of thousands of immigrant women and children, inspiring others around the world to follow their lead.
INDEPENDENT LENS “Coded Bias” – Sat., March 2 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
When MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini discovers most facial recognition does not see dark-skinned faces or women with accuracy, she joins the fight to expose the threats to civil liberties posed by an increasingly data-driven, automated world.
BELLA – Wed., March 6 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus and Thurs. March 21 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal – New!
A film about the life, work, influences and impact of California based choreographer Bella Lewitzky. Throughout her 70-year career, Lewitzky pursued artistic freedom and spoke out about government and institutional restrictions in the arts. The film features rare archival footage of Lewitzky’s performances and interviews with her former students and dancers,
WOMEN OF FIRE – Wed., March 6 at 10:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus and Thurs. March 21 at 10:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal – New!
Follow a group of female candidates through the Los Angeles County Women’s Fire Prep Academy. As the women consider their future careers as firefighters, the film addresses how with almost 3,400 firefighters in the Southern California region, less than 100 women currently work for the department.
ALL WE’VE GOT – Fri., March 9 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
More than 100 bars, bookstores, art and community spaces where LGBTQ+ women gather have closed in the past decade. Travel the country to find out why these spaces matter and how some are managing to survive despite the odds.
WHERE I BECAME – Fri., March 9 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
This film traces the story of 14 women who left apartheid in South Africa to attend Smith College in the U.S. Narrated in their own voices, the women tell stories that range from understanding childhood to discovering themselves through the power of higher education.
JODIE FOSTER, HOLLYWOOD UNDER THE SKIN – Wed., March 13 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus –New!
This documentary follows the actress’s unique life and highlights her many accomplishments in the film industry. Featuring clips from her many productions, this retrospective cements Foster as one of the most significant individuals to have ever worked on both sides of the camera. From her origins as a child model and acclaimed young actor, she later transitioned behind-the-camera as a celebrated filmmaker.
AMERICAN MASTERS “Mae West: Dirty Blonde” – Wed., March 13 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Dive into the life and career of Mae West who had a career spanning eight decades, broke boundaries and possessed creative and economic powers unheard of for a female entertainer in the 1930s.
GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET “DEAD MAN WALKING” – Fri., March 15 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal– New!
American composer Jake Heggie’s masterpiece is the most widely performed new opera of the last 20 years. See the highly anticipated Metropolitan Museum of Opera premiere in a haunting new production by Ivo van Hove.
FACING THE LAUGHTER: MINNIE PEARL – Sat., March 16 at 5:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
Small-town girl Sarah Cannon dreamed of becoming a Shakespearean actress; instead, she became famous as the class-act comedian Minnie Pearl. This documentary explores how her beloved character impacted American culture and how it’s still relevant today.
WITHOUT PRECEDENT: THE SUPREME LIFE OF ROSALIE ABELLA – Sat., March 16 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
The child of Holocaust survivors, Justice Abella has used her personal history to shape her legal career. She often intertwines her personal story with a discussion of human rights, morality and constitutional law.
ARTBOUND “Life Centered: The Helen Jean Taylor Story” – Sun., March 17 at 4 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Renowned ceramicist and educator Helen Jean Taylor has not only crafted timeless artworks inspired by colors found in home gardens, but also helped her students improve their mental health through the art of throwing clay.
CALL THE MIDWIFE – Sun., March 17 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal – SEASON PREMIERE – All New!
Returning for its 12th season, the eight-episode season will follow the nurses, midwives and nuns from Nonnatus House in 1960s East London, airing as part of PBS’s Sunday night drama lineup this spring. Viewers can watch the season premiere episode as Nonnatus House kicks off a new pupil midwife training.
MASTERPIECE “Nolly” – Sun., March 17 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal – All New!
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown,” “Harry Potter”) stars as soap opera legend Noele “Nolly” Gordon, one of the most famous faces on British TV in the 1960s and 70s, whose unceremonious firing from her hit show at the height of her career was front-page news. A bold exploration of how the establishment turns on women who refuse to play by the rules, Nolly is an outrageously fun and wildly entertaining ride through Gordon’s most tumultuous years, and a sharp, affectionate and heart-breaking portrait of a forgotten icon. “Nolly” was written by Russell T. Davies (“Doctor Who,” “It’s A Sin”).
AMERICAN MASTERS “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” - Wed., March 20 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus and Thurs., March 21 at 7pm 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.
ARTBOUND “Artist and Mother” - Sun., March 24 at 4 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Mother artists Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Tanya Aguiñiga, Rebecca Campbell and Andrea Chung confront the stakes while exploring the realities of art and motherhood.
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “The Cancer Detectives” - Tues., March 26 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., March 30 at 9pm on PBS SoCal Plus– New!
This dramatic story of the fight against cervical cancer revolves around three people. The work of these three true life savers slashed death rates of this previously unfightable cancer by more than 60 percent.
CARA ROMERO: FOLLOWING THE LIGHT- Wed., March 27 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Contemporary fine art photographer Cara Romero's work captures Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural memory, collective history and lived experiences from a Native American female perspective.
MARGUERITE: FROM THE BAUHAUS TO POND FARM - Wed., March 27 at 8:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
The half-hour documentary focuses on one of America’s most talented mid-Century ceramicists—a feminist and environmentalist in her time—and founder of Pond Farm, the annual summer gathering that trained a generation of American artists in Sonoma County, California. The film tells Marguerite’s backstory and how she rose to prominence at the Bauhaus, one of the most influential art schools of the 20th Century.
COMPOSER: AMY BEACH - Wed., March 27 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
A pioneering composer, pianist and teacher, Amy Beach was a national symbol of women's creative power and helped redefine the role of women in music.
MARGARET: THE REBEL PRINCESS - Thurs., March 28 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Learn how Princess Margaret's life and loves reflected the social and sexual revolution that transformed the western world during the 20th century and redefined society's image of the modern princess.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: QUEEN ELIZABETH II - Thurs., March 28 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Follow Queen Elizabeth II's remarkable life, from her youth to her uncle's abdication, her father's coronation as King George VI, her experience during World War II, her sudden ascension to the throne and her eventful reign of more than 60 years.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: PRINCESS DIANA - Thurs., March 28 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal
See how Princess Diana defied expectations and evolved into one of the most impactful icons of our time. Look back on her life through a contemporary lens that credits her choices, suffering and triumphs as the ultimate disrupter for a generation of women.
PBS SoCal’s commitment to sharing diverse and inclusive stories will continue in additional digital content exploring the impacts made by women in Southern California and beyond at pbssocal.org/WomensHistoryMonth.
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