Eight, Arizona PBS to host launch events for 'Latino Americans' documentary

Eight, Arizona PBS in partnership with the City of Phoenix Latino Institute, will host two events on May 23 to launch the new three-part, six-hour PBS documentary series "Latino Americans."

The first is a daytime event for teens at 11:30 a.m., followed by an evening arts and cultural event from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Both events will be held in the historic A.E. England Building in downtown Phoenix (424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix 85004) and will feature a highlight screening from "Latino Americans," scheduled to premiere this fall on Eight, Arizona PBS, and other PBS stations nationwide. Adriana Bosch, series producer for "Latino Americans," and others from the documentary will participate in discussions at both the daytime and evening viewing events.

"Latino Americans" narrates the history, growth and experiences of Latinos in the United States from the 16th century to present day. The six-hour film special combines interviews with nearly 100 Latinos from the worlds of politics, business and pop culture. Emmy Award-winning producer Bosch will participate in a panel following the screening to discuss this first-of-its-kind film chronicle of the lives of Latino Americans, and the importance of this history in understanding the Latino identity.

"It is time the Latino American history be told," says Bosch, a Cuban-born filmmaker whose previous PBS projects include "Latin Music U.S.A." and documentaries for the series "American Experience" on Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Cuban leader Fidel Castro. "Latinos are an integral part of the U.S., and this series shares the stories of a rich collection of people coming from so many different countries and backgrounds. It is the story of Latinos, and it is the story of America."

The City of Phoenix Latino Institute is presenting the "Latino Americans" film event as part of its Evening Community Connections Series, which takes place every Thursday at the A.E. England Building. In addition to the broadcast of "Latino Americans," a companion book by Ray Suarez - senior correspondent for PBS NEWSHOUR - will be released to coincide with the series. It will be published by Celebra, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), and will be available in both English and Spanish. It may be preordered now, and will go on sale Sept. 3. The project will also be accompanied by major bilingual digital engagement and public education campaigns, including the development of a school-based curriculum, which will be available in late summer.