"A powerful film."
A documentary exploring the modern American Dream with Executive Producer Dolores Huerta
Backstreet to the American Dream
Backstreet to the American Dream is a 90-minute bilingual feature that takes the audience on a journey and delves into how street food fosters inclusion, all while exploring the deep connection between food, culture and community.
Done through the quintessential 21st-Century entrepreneurial endeavor, this deep dive into the birthplace of the $2 billion dollar global phenomenon, Los Angeles, profiles two trucks and juxtaposes the experiences of American entrepreneurs and Mexican immigrants in the food truck industry. Indeed, these are very different operations in the same city: the gourmet burger truck, Grill ‘Em All, is the first season winner of The Great Food Truck Race TV show on the Food Network in 2010, and El Pescadito, a mariscos lonchera (seafood truck), that has been parking at the same swap meet in an immigrant neighborhood since 1982.
To date, the bilingual feature has screened at 14 film festivals (Including: Dances With Films, Newport Beach Film Festival, Sonoma International Film Festival, as well as in New York and Paris), 16 universities/cultural centers, and has won 14 awards, including Best Documentary (twice) and Best Food Film. Telling the rich and vibrant stories of everyday people and teaming up with Medal of Freedom Recipient and Executive Producer Dolores Huerta won this project the coveted Humanitarian Award from the Highland Park Independent Film Festival in 2022.
Chef Ryan
Harkins
Luis
Valdez
Bill
Esparza
Chef Roy
Choi
Dolores
Huerta
Doña Guillermina
Villa Rodríguez
“Absolutely masterful!”
-Wyoming International Film Festival
“A rich and vibrant portrait of the lives of everyday Americans.”
-Riverside International Film Festival
“…a deeply involving issue.”
-La Plaza de Cultura y Árte
“Our mission is to share Mexican culture with the world, and this documentary aligns with our core company values.”
-Jarritos
“…one story about chasing the American Dream in modern
Los Angeles…”
-L.A. Daily News
“The documentary paints a beautiful and authentic picture.”
-Newport Beach Independent
“…redefining our idea of the American melting pot.”
– Latina
“Precisamente, la industria alimenticia, la industria que se genera con en gran parte por estos food trucks ha sido que ha permitido avanzar los intereses de nuestras comunidades.”
–México, Consulado General en Lós Angeles
“…the story is about entrepreneurs chasing the American Dream, changing attitudes around cultural differences and social media’s role in this modern-day revolution.”
-Mobile-Cuisine.com
“Backstreet to the American Dream traces the origin of the food truck phenomenon back to the streets of Los Angeles.”
– WPIX 11 New York
“The documentary highlights the role of food trucks from the traditional ‘lonchera’ to the explosion of food trucks as mobile gourmet restaurants.”
–Fox 11 Los Angeles
Support
Backstreet to the American Dream
Join Our Mission: Backstreet to the American Dream is fundraising to get this story of everyday people before a wider audience. Become part of our movement, and make a tax-free donation via our fiscal sponsor, the International Documentary Assoc (IDA). Every contribution makes a significant difference.
For upcoming screenings, scroll down. Or, click Screenings (above) for the full schedule. If you’d like to host an educational/community screening, please Contact Us.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
Chicano Resource Center – East L.A., California, on Aug. 03, 2024 (2 – 4pm)
Backstreet to the American Dream is screening at the Chicano Resource Center (CRC) in East Los Angeles. The film will play in an intimate space for about 80 people, and Filmmaker Patricia Nazario will hold a live Q&A afterward.
RSVP at the event page. Get more info on the CRC website, and download the flyer here.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
JANM – Los Angeles, California, on Dec. 08, 2023 (7 – 9pm)
Several museums in L.A. are joining the Smithsonian’s program on the complex history and legacy of race and racism in our communities and institutions. As part of the national program, the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), in Downtown L.A., will screen the educational version of Backstreet to the American Dream.
RSVP is required. Get your FREE ticket here. Here’s the Smithsonian’s events in L.A.: calendar of events.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
UCLA – Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 10, 2023 (6 – 8pm)
UCLA Alumni and the UCLA Labor Center present this screening at the James West Alumni Center on campus in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Download the flyer here.
Thanks to our sponsors, Jarritos and Best Food Trucks, El Rey Tortasahogadas will be serving up free tacos and Jarritos before the screening for our guests on Oct. 10, 2023 (6 – 8pm). FREE event! RSVP is required.
August 12, 2023
LOMA Film Festival — Los Angeles, CA
The inaugural festival is free and open to the public! Backstreet to the American Dream’s animation open screens as a stand-alone animated short! LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes presents the LOMA Film Festival. The Latinas & Latinos of Mixed Ancestry (LOMA) Film Festival endeavors to share the stories of people that embody the intersection of Latinos and non-Latinos. Details are on their website. Download the flyer.
April 13, 2023
National Hispanic Cultural Center — Albuquerque, NM
The Film Symposium: The Power of Our Stories brings together three Latinas and celebrates Latinx/Chicanx in the arts. Patricia Nazario presented Backstreet to the American Dream, Iliana Sosa presented her Netflix documentary, What We Leave Behind, and filmmaker Aracely Chapa will present her documentary, Acequias: The Legacy Lives On on May 4, 2023. Download the flyer.
December 2 - 8, 2022
Culver City Film Festival — Los Angeles, CA
The 5th annual Culver City Film Festival takes place at the Promenade at Howard Hughes Center in West Los Angeles. Backstreet to the American Dream screens on Friday, December 2, 2022, at 4:00 pm in Theater 9. This is our final 2022 screening; come join us! Here’s the flyer.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
University of Southern California — Los Angeles, California
Sponsored by the Department of American Studies and Ethnicity (ASE) at USC, this screening is free and open to the public on Thurs., Nov. 10, 2022, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Dinner will also be served. A live Q&A with Filmmaker Patricia Nazario will directly follow.
October 21 - 25, 2022
Santa Ana, California
Since 2010, celebrating multicultural background and connecting Orange County with its greater heritage through film is the singular goal of the OC Film Fiesta. Backstreet to the American Dream screens on Sat., Oct. 22, 2022, 2pm, at 1666 N. Main St. Santa Ana, CA 92701. A live Q&A with Filmmaker Patricia Nazario will directly follow. Details here.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
San Francisco State University — San Francisco, California
Sponsored by the Latinx Student Center, this screening is free and open to the public on Tue., Oct. 11, 2022, at 5:30 pm. Directly afterward, Director/Producer Patricia Nazario will join university professors for a live panel discussion.
More info is here on their website.
October 7 - 8, 2022
Highland Park Independent Film Festival (HPIFF) — Highland Park, California
Backstreet to the American Dream won Best Documentary at HPIFF! Making the screening even more special was them glass-blown Humanitarian Award art piece presented to Executive Producer Dolores Huerta. The doc screened on Oct. 8, 2022, and was the festival’s closing presentation. The event was live on KNBC 4.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
Cal Poly Pomona — Pomona, California
The University Library hosts this free campuswide screening on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at 4:00 pm with an in-person Q&A. Come join us at the Grand Reading Room inside the University Library! It’s free and open to the public.
Here’s the flyer.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
San Jose Community College — San Jose, California
Dean of Academic Success and Student Equity René Alvarez, Ph.D. brings this screening to the Student Center at San Jose Community College on Sept. 27, 2022, at 1:00 pm.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
Texas A&M University — San Antonio, Texas
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) hosts this free campuswide screening on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at 6:00 pm with an in-person Q&A. Come join us at the A&M SA Auditorium! It’s free and open to the public. People with disabilities requiring accommodations, please email: [email protected]. Here’s the flyer.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
Trinity University — San Antonio, Texas
As part of Trinity’s Celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, Trinity Entrepreneurship is sponsoring this campus-wide screening. Following the film will be a live Q&A with the Director/Producer Patricia Nazario at the Fiesta Room of the Coates University Center and includes light refreshments. Here are the flyers: Backstreet event and Latinx Heritage Month.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
Trinity University — San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Luis Martinez is screening the film for his Arts Entrepreneurship Mindset class at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship with a live Q&A on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, at 2:30 pm.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
University of the Incarnate Word — San Antonio, Texas
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, join the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) for a film screening of Backstreet to the American Dream followed by a Q&A with award-winning journalist, producer, and director Patricia Nazario.
Hosted by Dr. Teresa Harrison, Co-Director of the UIW Beckendorf Family Center for Innovation and Global Entrepreneurship, Dr. Sandy Guzman-Foster, Director of the UIW Center for Teaching and Learning, and Dr. Trey Guinn, Communication Arts Director and the San Antonio Chapter of the Fulbright Association. Download the flyer here, and more info is on the UIW website.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
Brick at Blue Star — San Antonio, Texas
The non-profit organization, CUBE PROJECTS, hosts this in-person screening at the cinema space, Brick at Blue Star, on September 19, 2022. Tickets are for sale at the door with the suggested price of $10 each. Click for more about Brick at Blue Star, and event info is at Eventbrite.
August 2 - 7, 2022
San Antonio Film Festival — San Antonio, TX
At our South Central U.S. premiere at the 28th Annual San Antonio Film Festival, we won two awards: the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature & the Best Food Film Award! For more info, check out SAFILM.
April 19 - 23, 2022
Ethnography Film Festival — Paris, France
Our European premiere will be at the iconic Théâtre Lepic. This epic festival is exclusive to directors of non-fiction films, and the exact screening info for Backstreet to the American Dream is still pending. More info at ETHNOGRAFILM PARIS.
March 23 - 27, 2022
Sonoma International Film Festival — Sonoma, CA
Our Northern California premiere is at the 25th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival. We screen twice: Thursday, March 24,2022, at 9:00 am and Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 9:30 am. USA Today named the Sonoma International Film Festival one of America’s Top Ten Destination Film Festivals. For more info and tickets, go to SIFF.
November 4 - 6, 2021
GuadaLAjara Film Festival — Los Angeles, CA
This festival celebrates Latin cinema and the creators of it. Backstreet to the American Dream screens at the Secret Movie Club on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, @4 pm with an in-person Q&A, and virtually until Nov. 13th! More info at GLAFF.
October 21 - 28, 2021
Newport Beach Film Festival — Newport Beach, CA
The Orange County premiere of Backstreet to the American Dream is at the Starlight Triangle Cinemas -Theater #4- on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, @7:30 pm with an in-person Q&A. More info at NBFF.
Educational Screening
NuyorRican Poet’s Cafe — NYC (LES), New York, NY
Join us on the Lower East Side at this iconic cultural center for groundbreaking works by minority and underprivileged artists on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2021, @7:00 pm with an in-person Q&A. More info at BackstreetFilm.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
“The Bronx: Immigration Race and Culture,” at Fordham University — Bronx, NY
Our first educational screening in the Bronx is in Dr. Mark Naison’s class on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, @1:00 pm. More info on IG at BackstreetFilm.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
“Reporting: Deadline Drill,” at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism — New York, NY
Our first NYC educational screening is with Professor Sam Freedman’s Reporting Class on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, at 9 am. More info on IG at BackstreetFilm.
October 8 - 17, 2021
Workers Unite Film Festival — New York, NY
We won the Special Jury Award at the East Coast premiere of Backstreet to the American Dream. We screened at Cinema Village in Greenwich Village on Oct. 10, 2021, @3pm with an in-person Q&A. More info at WorkersUniteFilmFestival.org.
October 1 - 17, 2021
San Francisco Latino Film Festival — San Francisco, CA
Our pan-Latino premiere is at the film festival that bridges communities and celebrates Latino arts through film. Backstreet to the American Dream screens virtually from Oct. 1 – 17, 2021. More info at CINEMASSF.
August 26 - September 5, 2021
Dances With Films Festival — Los Angeles, CA
Our world premiere is at the Chinese Theatres in Hollywood as part of the DWF Festival. This is the festival’s 24th year, and its post-Covid theme is Let’s Get Physical! Backstreet to the American Dream is sold out! It screens on Sunday, August 29, 2021, at 5:00 pm. Get more details here.
Educational Screening &. Discussion
“Latinx and News Media in the U.S.,” at the University of Arizona — Tucson, AZ
Our first educational screening is via Zoom with the bilingual M.A. graduate program at the University of Arizona’s Center for Border & Global Journalism on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, at 10:30 am. More info at
UA J-School.
April 27 - May 1, 2021
Riverside International Film Festival — Riverside, CA
The two-dimensional, four-minute animation, which traces street food from L.A. to Ancient Mexico, screens as a stand-alone animated short film with a live Zoom Q&A on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. More info at RIFF.
May 1, 2021
European Short Film Festival — Berlin, Germany
The two-dimensional, four-minute animation, which traces street food from L.A. to Ancient Mexico, screens as a stand-alone animated short film. More info at ESFF.
Backstreet to the American Dream is the result of monumental cooperation, collaboration, and teamwork, from the main entrepreneurs in the film and our creative crew, to our Jarritos, our festival sponsor, and Executive Producer Dolores Huerta. Go behind the scenes, and get a taste of how this incredible story came together!
Q&A: Latina Magazine
The food truck revolution, which started as a grassroots movement for struggling chefs and working-class families, is now a billion-dollar industry. Parades of trucks offering endless...
Read MoreNewport Beach Independent
Food trucks have become a fixture of the culinary arts. Many people walk just steps outside their office building to find their lunch at one of...
Read MoreFox 11: In-Depth with Hal Eisner
The documentary highlights the role of food trucks from the traditional “lonchera” to the explosion of food trucks as mobile gourmet restaurants. Nazario says that the social...
Read MoreWPIX 11 Morning News
WPIX 11 News is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the work of a Latina film director who is sinking her teeth into the food truck...
Read MoreMexican Consulate en Los Ángeles
Snack & Chat con la directora y periodista Patricia Nazario y presentación del documental, Backstreet to the American Dream. Read more >
Read MoreLA Daily News
In 2010, Patricia Nazario was a journalist at KPCC radio when she was sent out on a news story that would change the direction of her...
Read More“Backstreet to the American Dream depicts the quintessence of ‘loncheras’ and the place they deserve in the billion-dollar food truck industry. The documentary highlights social injustice and inequalities that exist in the U.S. and gives us the tools to understand how immigrant food truck owners have the legitimate right to participate in the American Dream. Powerful and insightful!”
-Franck Lemperle, Feature Films Programmer • Newport Beach Film Festival