Educational Screening &. Discussion
JANM – Los Angeles, California
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 calendar of events.
THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES
At a time of heightened immigration enforcement, widening economic inequality and deepening divisions across the United States, Backstreet to the American Dream brings audiences together through a shared experience: food. Set against Los Angeles’ vibrant food truck scene, this award-winning bilingual documentary follows two strikingly different paths to the American Dream, revealing how race, class, immigration and media visibility shape whose labor is celebrated and whose struggles go unseen. Moving between survival and spectacle, hardship and hustle, the film sparks conversations about dignity, opportunity and the people who keep America running.
- “At a time when immigrants are being vilified, more than ever, and scapegoated for all the ills of the world, I didn’t mean it as an applause line, but it gets the biggest applauses in our show, Hamilton… ‘Immigrants, we get the job done!’”
– Lin-Manuel Miranda (Source: Time Magazine, May 22, 2025)
Timely and unflinching, this powerful slice of contemporary Americana delivers an urgent call to action: recognize the humanity of those who keep America running, and the fragility of democracy in the struggle for labor rights, dignity, and equal opportunity. Help bring these conversations to more communities by making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, the ida (International Documentary Association).
BACKSTREET
ON SCREEN
Festivals, universities and community screenings
LIFE Festival L.A.
Casa 0101 – 2102 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033, March 8, 2026, 3:30 p.m.
The award-winning documentary Backstreet to the American Dream screened at the Latina Independent Film Extravaganza (LIFE), a festival founded by Real Women Have Curves playwright Josefina López. The event is dedicated to elevating Latina filmmakers and expanding their visibility in the industry.
CINEMA. CULTURA. COMUNIDAD.
Gardena Cinema – 14948 Crenshaw Blvd. Gardena, CA 90249, Sept. 27, 2025, 10 am – 8 pm
In response to the attacks on the immigrant community in Los Angeles, this Latina-led event partnered with Gardena Cinema for a daylong celebration: Cinema. Cultura. Comunidad. Three curated blocks of short films by 25 audacious Latina directors, a panel discussion with NASA astronaut José Hernández, whose real-life story inspired A Million Miles Away, and Public Counsel’s Directing Attorney of the Immigrants’ Rights Project, Gina Amato, culminating in a spotlight screening of this award-winning documentary.
The parking lot became an outdoor mercado: live music, lowriders, open mic, artisans, and street food by a USC grad, who’s keeping his parents’ dream alive in the face of ICE raids. Gardena Cinema is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell invested in the project with a grant to expand public access, L.A. City Mayor Karen Bass and U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters issued special certificates of recognition, and a portion of all proceeds benefited Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.
Event Flyer | Program & Impact | Press Release | Comunicado de prensa
TAM SUR biennial
Torrance Art Museum – Torrance, California, from Saturday Aug. 23 to Sept. 27, 2025, 6 to 9pm
Backstreet to the American Dream screened inside TAM’s Dark Room. Free admission.
Founded in 2011, the SUR: biennial is an ongoing exhibition series that highlights the impact of Latin American and Caribbean cultures on contemporary art worldwide. Through independently curated presentations, the SUR: biennial showcases recent and newly commissioned works by both local and international artists who explore themes rooted in the cultural traditions of Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. More info at TAM’s website.
Educational Screening & Discussion
Chicano Resource Center – East L.A., California, on Aug. 3, 2024, 2 to 4pm
Backstreet to the American Dream screened at the Chicano Resource Center (CRC) in East Los Angeles. The film played in an intimate space for about 80 people, and the audience engaged filmmaker Patricia Nazario in a lively Q&A afterward.
Recap video is here. Get more info on the CRC website, and download the flyer here.
Educational Screening & Discussion
JANM – Los Angeles, California, on Dec. 8, 2023, 7 to 9pm
Several museums in L.A. joined 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., screened the Director’s Cut (100 min.) of Backstreet to the American Dream.
Educational Screening & Discussion
UCLA – Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 10, 2023 (6 – 8pm)
UCLA Alumni and the UCLA Labor Center presented 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 served up free tacos and Jarritos before the screening for our guests on Oct. 10, 2023, 6 to 8 pm.
Aug. 12, 2023
LOMA Film Festival — Los Angeles, CA
The inaugural festival was free and open to the public! Backstreet to the American Dream’s animation screened 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.
May 20-21, 2023
Mexican-American Film & Television Festival
“Changing the narrative, recognizing who we are,” is the rallying cry of the 2nd Annual MACEF Festival at Hollywood’s Harmony Gold Theater. The award-winning feature documentary, Backstreet to the American Dream, carries a similar mandate. It reframes the American narrative about Latino immigrants through contrasting portraits of street-food vendors in Los Angeles. See our IG post here.
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 presented her documentary, Acequias: The Legacy Lives On. Download the flyer.
Dec. 2 - 8, 2022
Culver City Film Festival — Los Angeles, CA
The 5th annual Culver City Film Festival took place at the Promenade at Howard Hughes Center in West Los Angeles, and Patricia Nazario won Best Director of a Documentary Feature. Backstreet screened on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, 4 pm in Theater 9. This was our final 2022 screening. Here’s the flyer.
Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival
Electric Lodge Theater — Venice, California
Backstreet won the Intangible Heritage Documentary award at the Garifuna International Film Festival. The event exhibits work from independent storytellers of the African diaspora. The screening was Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, at the Electric Lodge Theater in Venice. Here’s the flyer.
Educational Screening & Discussion
University of Southern California — Los Angeles, California
Sponsored by USC’s Department of American Studies and Ethnicity (ASE), this free public screening took place Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m. Dinner was also served, followed by a live Q&A with Filmmaker Patricia Nazario.
Oct. 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 screened on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, 2pm, at 1666 N. Main St. Santa Ana, CA 92701. A live Q&A with Filmmaker Patricia Nazario directly followed. Details here.
Educational Screening & Discussion
San Francisco State University — San Francisco, California
Sponsored by the Latinx Student Center, this screening was free and open to the public. Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, 5:30 pm. Directly afterward, Director/Producer Patricia Nazario joined university professors for a live panel discussion. More info is here on their website.
Oct. 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 the glass-blown Humanitarian Award art piece presented to Executive Producer Dolores Huerta. The doc screened on Saturday, 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 hosted this free campus-wide screening on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, 4 pm with an in-person Q&A. It was set at the Grand Reading Room inside the University Library! Here’s the flyer.
Educational Screening & Discussion
San Jose City College — San Jose, California
Dean of Academic Success and Student Equity René Alvarez, Ph.D. brought this screening to the Student Center at San Jose City College on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, 1 pm.
Educational Screening & Discussion
Texas A&M University — San Antonio, Texas
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) hosted this free campus-wide screening on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, 6 pm with an in-person Q&A at the A&M SA Auditorium! Here’s the flyer.
Educational Screening & Discussion
Trinity University — San Antonio, Texas
As part of Trinity’s Celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, Trinity Entrepreneurship sponsored this campus-wide screening. Following the film, Director/Producer Patricia Nazario took part in a live Q&A at the Fiesta Room of the Coates University Center. Light refreshments were included. Here are the flyers: Backstreet event and Latinx Heritage Month.
Educational Screening & Discussion
Trinity University — San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Luis Martinez screened the film for his Arts Entrepreneurship Mindset class at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship with a dedicated Q&A on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, 2:30 pm.
Educational Screening & Discussion
University of the Incarnate Word — San Antonio, Texas
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) screened Backstreet to the American Dream followed by a Q&A with award-winning journalist, producer, and director Patricia Nazario.
This screening was 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, hosted this in-person screening at the cinema space, Brick at Blue Star, on Sept. 19, 2022. Tickets at the door had the suggested price of $10 each. Click for more about Brick at Blue Star, and event info is at Eventbrite.
Aug. 2 - 7, 2022
San Antonio Film Festival — San Antonio, TX
The film’s South Central U.S. premiere was at the 28th Annual San Antonio Film Festival, and Backstreet 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
The film’s European premiere was at the iconic Théâtre Lepic. This epic festival is exclusive to directors of non-fiction films. More info at ETHNOGRAFILM PARIS.
March 23 - 27, 2022
Sonoma International Film Festival — Sonoma, CA
Backstreet’s Northern California premiere was at the 25th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival. It screened twice: Thursday, March 24, 2022, 9 am and Saturday, March 26, 2022, 9 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.
Nov. 4 - 6, 2021
GuadaLAjara Film Festival — Los Angeles, CA
This festival celebrates Latin cinema and the creators of it. Backstreet to the American Dream screened 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.
Oct. 21 - 28, 2021
Newport Beach Film Festival — Newport Beach, CA
The Orange County premiere of Backstreet to the American Dream was 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
This iconic cultural center for groundbreaking works by Puerto Rican and Latino artists on the Lower East Side screened Backstreet on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, 7 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
The film’s first educational screening in the Bronx was in Dr. Mark Naison’s African-American Studies class on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, 1 pm. More info on IG at BackstreetFilm.
Educational Screening & Discussion
“Reporting: Deadline Drill,” at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism — New York, NY
Backstreet’s first NYC educational screening was with Professor Sam Freedman’s reporting class on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, 9 am. More info on IG at BackstreetFilm.
Oct. 8 - 17, 2021
Workers Unite Film Festival — New York, NY
Oct. 1 - 17, 2021
San Francisco Latino Film Festival — San Francisco, CA
Our pan-Latino premiere was at the film festival that bridges communities and celebrates Latino arts through film. Backstreet to the American Dream screened virtually from Oct. 1 – 17, 2021. More info at CINEMASSF.
August 26 - Sept. 5, 2021
Dances With Films Festival — Los Angeles, CA
Backstreet’s world premiere was at the Chinese Theatres in Hollywood as part of the DWF Festival. This was the festival’s 24th year, and its post-Covid theme was Let’s Get Physical! Backstreet to the American Dream sold out! It screened on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, 5 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 was 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, 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, won the Audience Award for Best Animated as a stand-alone animated short film. 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, screened as a stand-alone animated short film. More info at ESFF.
“Having garnered an encore screening due to its popularity, Backstreet to the American Dream is an exceptionally compelling portrait of the struggles that minority business owners face in the United States. Considering today’s political climate, it is a warning call of understanding to every American.”
– Michael Trent, Co-Founder • Dances With Films Festival
Screening Request
Thank you for your interest in hosting an educational screening of Backstreet to the American Dream.
In the form below:
Please indicate your location, potential dates, and any special requests, including: panel discussions, Q&A with the filmmaker, or a catering invitation for featured food trucks. Please also use this form for general inquiries. We appreciate your interest in Backstreet to the American Dream!