IMPACT | AWARDS | Press
BACKSTREET BACKSTORY
Survival isn’t trendy. It’s the only way forward.
A global story of race, labor, class and economic survival plays out on the streets of Los Angeles, where bootstrapped entrepreneurs chase the same dream but on very different terms. Backstreet to the American Dream is a bilingual, cross-cultural odyssey that follows street food vendors from opposite worlds: Grill ’Em All, a heavy-metal burger truck, rockets from obscurity to Food Network fame and a booming brand. Mexican immigrant Doña Guillermina Villa builds her El Pescadito mariscos truck in South L.A. through decades of family labor and deep community ties. Moving between survival and success, visibility and invisibility, the informal economy and mainstream marketplace, Backstreet asks enduring questions about labor, opportunity and building community.
Executive produced by civil rights icon and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Dolores Huerta, with Jarritos as a promotional partner, the documentary has earned 18 awards and commendations. It has screened at 14 film festivals, including Dances With Films, Newport Beach, Sonoma, San Antonio, GuadaLAjara, Workers Unite-NYC and Ethnografilm Paris, and at universities and cultural centers across the United States. The film joined New Day Films in 2026. The 100-minute Director’s Cut, a 54-minute Classroom Cut (with four course modules), and a five-day study guide are available at NewDay.com.
LATINO CULTURAL VISIBILITY
In May 2025, Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos and Fuerza Regida’s 111XPANTIA made Billboard history when their Spanish-language albums simultaneously occupied the top two spots on the Billboard 200. The milestone reflects the growing cultural influence and mainstream visibility of Latino artists, echoing Backstreet to the American Dream’s exploration of representation, opportunity and whose stories command America’s attention.
Source: NPR, May 14, 2025
SOCIAL IMPACT CAMPAIGN
CINEMA. CULTURA. COMUNIDAD. – A CULTURAL INTERVENTION TO A POLITICAL CRISIS:
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, Cinema. Cultura. Comunidad. took over the historic Gardena Cinema for a daylong indoor/outdoor cultural showcase using art, activism, and community to confront today’s political and social crises. Cheech Marin donated to our raffle and auction, and L.A. County District 2 Supervisor Holly Mitchell invested in this vision with a grant to expand access.
POLICY · CIVIC ENGAGEMENT · COALITIONS · SOCIAL IMPACT:
- Mobilized 200+ Latina filmmakers, community partners, agencies, and attendees for CCC, a daylong activation
- Elevated immigrant-centered narratives during Hispanic Heritage Month with county-level grant award and support
- Screenings rooted in dialogue around race, labor, class, public policy and community
- Fireside chat with NASA astronaut José Hernández and Public Counsel attorney Gina Amato to challenge harmful Latino Hollywood portrayals
- Partnerships – Gardena Cinema, L.A. Co. Sup. Holly Mitchell
- Raised $800 for Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project
- L.A. City Mayor Karen Bass and U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters issued special certificates of recognition honoring the event.
Event Program | Instagram | Backstreet One-Sheet | Press Release | Comunicado de prensa
COMMUNITY PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
AWARDS | COMMENDATIONS
2025
Special Commendations – U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters (Dist. 43, CA)
Backstreet to the American Dream & Cinema. Cultura. Comunidad.
- “For creating Cinema. Cultura. Comunidad., a film and cultural festival in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month…and whose work humanizes the perception of immigrants…”
Certificate of Recognition – City of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
Backstreet to the American Dream
- “I extend appreciation for her dedication to telling the stories of the workers and families that demonstrate the strength, resilience, and entrepreneurship that continue to shape the City of Angels.”
2024
Special Commendations:
Former U.S. Secretary of Labor/L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis (Dist. 1)
- “We recognize the film’s accomplishment of delving into how street food fosters inclusion, while exploring the deep connection between food, culture, and community.”
L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath (Dist. 3)
- “We applaud Patricia for the illustrious response she has received for this film…”
L.A. City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez (Dist. 7)
- “Thank you for documenting the hard work and sacrifices of immigrants as
they chase the American Dream.”
2022
Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival
Intangible Heritage Documentary
2022
Highland Park Independent Film Festival
Best Feature Documentary
2022
Highland Park Independent Film Festival
Humanitarian Award
2022
Culver City Film Festival
Best Director Documentary Feature
2022
San Antonio Film Festival
Best Food Film
2022
San Antonio Film Festival
Audience Award: Best Feature Documentary
2021
Ruben Salazar National Journalism Award
Digital (Finalist)
2021
Workers Unite Film Festival – New York City
Special Jury Award
2021
Riverside International Film Festival
Audience Award: Best Animation Short (animated sequence)
2021
Independent Shorts Awards
Bronze Award: Best Animated Short (animated sequence)
2012
U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez, California’s 47th Congressional Dist. – Congressional Certificate of Recognition
U.S. Representative Linda Sánchez, California’s 39th Congressional Dist. – Congressional Certificate of Recognition
La Asociación Latina de Asistencia & Partners – Leaders Blazing Trails Award
- All three 2012 honors recognized Patricia’s vision for Backstreet to the American Dream
as a work in progress
News & Press
10.28.2025 – Mex-American/Latino Lens Live
12.20.2023 – Democracy Center TV
10.06.2022 – NBC4/CA Live
09.23.2022 – Kens5 (NBC San Antonio)
09.22.2022 – The Mesquite News
08.02.2022 – Kens5 (NBC San Antonio)
07.29.2022 – La Prensa Texas
07.31.2022 – San Antonio Reporter
08.05.2022 – Fronteras (Texas Public Radio)
03.24.2022 – SonomaTV
03.19.2022 – Fandor Festival Podcast
12.04.2021 – CCNMA: Ruben Salazar Nat. Journ. Award
11.02.2021 – Latina.com
10.17.2021 – Newport Beach Independent Newspaper
10.10.2021 – KTTV-TV: In-Depth
10.07.2021 – WPIX Morning Show
08.27.2021 – Mexican Consulate in LA
08.23.2021 – LA Daily News
08.18.2021 – En Casa con La Plaza
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 More
Newport 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 More
Fox 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 More
WPIX 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 More
Mexican 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 More
LA 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“To think that Backstreet to the American Dream is just a ‘foodie film’ would be a huge disservice to what is an authentically, multi-flavored, and well-crafted vision of the American Dream told from two polar perspectives within the food truck revolution.”
– Cedric Smith, Programmer • San Antonio Film Festival
Press Inquiries
From Our Fans
“It really gave me a lot of insight into how these folks feed us in a number of ways.”
– Clifford Lo, Esq., Los Angeles
“The story made me feel hopeful, grateful, and to keep reaching for the American Dream”
– Karla Henry, Los Angeles, CA
“The film has a good pace. My favorite part was how the animation covered the history and origin of street food!”
– Cathy May, Los Angeles, CA
“I felt invested in Doña Guille, owner/operator of El Pescadito, and felt connected to her story.”
– Sara Pacheco, Los Angeles, CA
“So many great aspects to it. Very well done!”
– Rebecca Liliana Gomez, Los Angeles, CA
“Good production value! It shows how something ethnic and created out of
necessity is taken hostage by marketing and commercialism.”
– Ivan Cordiero, Los Angeles, CA
“It is unique and interesting! No one else has educated us about this.”
– Elena McCalla, Los Angeles, CA
