Singing Our Way to Freedom

This feature length documentary film is a multilayered portrait of Ramon “Chunky” Sanchez – musician, composer and community activist from San Diego. From the early days of the Chicano civil rights movement alongside Cesar Chavez through today’s immigrants’ rights protests, Chunky has used music to energize our political imagination in the struggle for social justice. Our film examines how Chunky’s inspiring career as a musician is interwoven with the broader history of the Chicano movement, a cultural movement nearly forgotten today. A portrait of one charismatic musician and activist allows us to revisit this pivotal era in American history and to provoke dialogue about the many hurdles that had to be overcome to gain equal rights for Mexican Americans.

Produced, Written and Directed by Paul Espinosa

Producers – Mark Day, Michael Bovee

Narrated by Alma Martinez

Cinematographers – Vicente Franco, Simone Hogan

Editor – Maria Zeiss

Scored by Quetzal Flores

Advisors – Dr. Luis Alvarez, Dr. Estevan Azcona, Dr. Michelle Tellez, Dr. Rita Sanchez, Dr. Ricardo Griswold del Castillo, Dr. Jorge Mariscal, and Dr. Jose Villarino

Awards

Audience Award for Best Documentary at the San Diego Latino Film Festival, Frontera Feature, San Diego Latino Film Festival, and Official Selection at multiple festivals, including the Guadalajara International Film Festival, the Smithsonian Folklike Festival and festivals in Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Kansas City.