American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez

In honor of Latine Heritage Month, you are invited to a special screening of the unreleased documentary American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez

📅 Thursday, October 1, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM Pacific Time
💻 Via Zoom
🎬 Film Screening followed by a Director Q&A with David Alvarado

The film tells the story of Luis Valdez, the visionary playwright, director, and founder of El Teatro Campesino, who transformed the experiences of Mexican American farmworkers and the figure of the Pachuco into influential American theater.

The story began not on a traditional stage, but on a flatbed truck at the Delano picket lines, where farmworkers performed for their fellow workers during the farmworker movement. Valdez would go on to create El Teatro Campesino and bring the history of the Pachuco and the Zoot Suit Riots to audiences across the country.

The documentary is narrated by Edward James Olmos in character as El Pachuco and features legendary labor and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta.

The film was also recognized at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, receiving:

🏆 Festival Favorite Award
🏆 Audience Award: U.S. Documentary

Following the screening, filmmaker David Alvarado will join us for a special post screening Q&A, giving attendees an opportunity to hear directly from the director about the film and its creation.

Join Event Via Zoom

Zoom Meeting ID: 333 222 0444

This is a particularly meaningful screening for our campus and our region. This is a Mexican American story on the big screen, right here at San Joaquin Delta College, in the heart of the Central Valley that lived this history.

The event is co-sponsored by Puente, SJDCTA, the Cultural Awareness Program (CAP), and Chicanx Latine Faculty (CLF).

We invite students, faculty, staff, and community members to join us for this special celebration of Latine history, culture, art, and legacy.