Paul Espinosa Film Festival at the Filmoteca Espanola in Madrid Spain.
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Paul Espinosa grew up in Albuquerque and was inspired by his community.
The filmmaker is bringing the award-winning documentary, “Singing Our Way to Freedom” to the National Hispanic Cultural Center at 7 p.m. Friday, April 12.
The screening is part of the “Power of Our Stories” series which finishes its final two days at the NHCC from Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13.
According to the NHCC, the program features 11 films and more than 13 guest speakers/performers/filmmakers.
“Singing Our Way to Freedom” chronicles the power of music in creating a new identity and sense of belonging among young Chicana and Chicano students during the Civil Rights movement.
As a young man in the 1970s, Ramon “Chunky” Sanchez joined the picket lines in California and became César Chávez’s favorite musician.
His journey is a remarkable lens on a time when young Mexican Americans and Chicanas/os became inspired by the social and political changes taking place in the country and organized their own communities to take part in this dramatic moment of social change.
Sanchez’s student activism began at San Diego State University with the community takeover of a section of public land that became Chicano Park in San Diego, an event which he memorialized in his enduring anthem, “Chicano Park Samba.”
Later he performed “We shall overcome/No nos moveran” on Joan Baez’s first Spanish language record and eventually formed a band, Los Alacranes Mojados.
Performing compelling songs, Sanchez became a favorite at demonstrations and rallies for over 40 years, performing at schools, prisons, political events, quinceañeras and weddings.
“Racism, discrimination and intolerance are on the rise again, and our democracy’s survival is at stake” Espinosa says. “Chunky’s arc of transformation from marginalized farm kid to charismatic activist shows how you can mobilize people to change the world by developing your unique talents and sense of purpose.”
Espinosa says he worked on the film for nearly seven years.
“I knew Chunky for many years and used his music in some of my earlier films,” he says. “He was a charismatic figure on stage whose presence in a variety of social justice movements was an inspiration for many folks in the community. His story was a way of informing many younger viewers about the Chicano Civil Rights Movement.”
Espinosa says in today’s turbulent political and social landscape, young people are using their voices, making powerful and needed contributions toward peaceful social change.
He says in his songs and in his life, Sanchez offers an inspiring narrative about what’s possible – reminding viewers that the battle for freedom has to be fought anew by every generation.
“Having grown up in Albuquerque, I’m thrilled to be screening my film at the National Hispanic Cultural Center,” Espinosa says. “I hope viewers will leave with an appreciation of Chunky’s dedication to building community and the important role that music plays in social movements.”
Read original article: https://www.abqjournal.com/lifestyle/power-of-a-story-abq-native-filmmaker-returns-to-screen-singing-our-way-to-freedom/article_ec5e31e4-f53b-11ee-9150-ff5a4e06506e.html#3
Una reflexión sobre el documental de Paul Espinosa, The New Tijuana (1990), proyectado en la Sala Carlos Monsiváis del Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT) con la presencia del director Paul Espinosa, como parte del programa de actividades del Festival Interzona Tijuana, el 30 de noviembre de 2023.
Paul Espinosa invited to present the 2022 Ernesto Galarza / Al Camarillo Lecture at Stanford University.
His lecture titled “Reflections of a Chicano Filmmaker: Looking Back at Stories Told” is scheduled on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. His award-winning documentary film, Singing Our Way to Freedom, will screen on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 with a post-screening discussion with Director Paul Espinosa. These events, scheduled for Oshman Hall, Stanford University, are sponsored by the Stanford Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and the Stanford Latino Alumni Association.
The Multicultural Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara presents Singing Our Way to Freedom, the award-winning documentary directed by Paul Espinosa on February 26, 2020. The event includes a post-screening discussion with Director Paul Espinosa.
The United States Hispanic Leadership Institute screens Singing Our Way to Freedom, the award-winning documentary directed by Paul Espinosa on February 19, 2021. A post screening discussion will follow with Dolores Huerta, American Labor Leader and Civil Rights Activist, and Dr. Jose Angel Gutierrez, Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas at Arlington.
The Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute and the Department of Romance, German and Slavic Languages and Literatures at The George Washington University in collaboration with the U.S. Latina/o Studies Program and the Department of English at the University of Maryland present Singing Our Way to Freedom, the award-winning documentary directed by Paul Espinosa on October 19, 2021. The event includes a post-screening discussion with Director Paul Espinosa.
El documental de Paul Espinosa, Singing Our Way to Freedom, se presenta en la Sala Carlos Monsiváis en Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT) con la presencia del director Paul Espinosa, como parte del programa de actividades del Festival Tijuana Interzona, 1 de diciembre 2022.
The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at San Jose State University presents Singing Our Way to Freedom, the award-winning documentary directed by Paul Espinosa on April 28, 2021. This event forms part of the Cincuenta Mas series, celebrating the next 50 years of Chicano/a Studies at San Jose State University. The online film screening will be followed by a zoom talk back and Q&A with Director Paul Espinosa.
