Univision TV & America Ferrera Team Up: Actress to Host 'Panoramica' Documentary Series Featuring 'Cesar Chavez'
Fans fell in love with Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress America Ferrera on both the small and big screen -- from "Real Women Have Curves" to "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 1 and 2," and ABC's "Ugly Betty." Recently, she impressed audiences with her portrayal of Helen Chavez in "Cesar Chavez," directed by actor-turned director Diego Luna.
Now, with an impressive body of work under her belt, she's caught the eye of Pivot and Univision News, who have chosen the popular Latina actress to host their new Latino-centric documentary series "Panoramica."
"We are delighted to have America hosting the 'Panoramica' series," said Isaac Lee, president of Univision News and CEO of Fusion. "Apart from being a distinguished actress, she has become an admired role model for young Latinos across the U.S. through her enormously successful career in Hollywood, which includes a major role in the recently released biopic 'Cesar Chavez.' We know that she will connect with our viewers and create the perfect lead-in for the outstanding films that will follow her introduction."
Ferrera won the 2014 Imagen Award for Best Actress in a Feature Film for "Cesar Chavez" (Canana Films), which also won the 2014 Imagen Award for Best Picture.
The "Panoramica" series will feature eight original documentary films co-produced or acquired by Univision News, a Spanish-language news division of Univision Communications, Inc. and Pivot, an Emmy Award-winning television network from Participant Media, including the highly acclaimed "Cesar's Last Fast," which aired on the Univision and Pivot networks in May 2014.
"Cesar's Last Fast," an American documentary film co-directed and produced by Richard Ray Perez and Lorena Parlee, narrates the events involving the iconic activist's "Fast for Life" a 36-day, water-only fast to draw attention to the horrible effects of pesticide exposure experienced by farm workers and their families.
You can now watch CESAR CHAVEZ w/ me, @realmichaelpena & @rosariodawson on @iTunesMovies https://t.co/f7i51sxv61
— America Ferrera (@AmericaFerrera) July 10, 2014
Evan Shapiro, president at Pivot, added to Lee's sentiments, saying, "America has a proven passion for films that unearth the root of social and eco-political issues in the Latino community. We are very excited to have her on board as the host of 'Panoramica' and to lend her voice to these fascinating films that dive into the issues that are top of mind for young Latinos."
In addition to introducing the documentaries in the "Panoramica" series, Ferrera will provide insight and context for the compelling films.
The second title, "Marmato," is scheduled to air on Univision's UniMás network and will be simulcast on Pivot on Aug. 23, 2014.
"Marmato" was filmed over the span of almost six years and chronicles the struggles of a small mining town in Colombia, as its 8,000 residents confront a powerful Canadian company determined to gain control of the $20 billion in gold that lies beneath their homes.
Ferrera, a passionate and politically active millenial who is a supporter of Voto Latino, recently visited a Brownsville, Texas shelter that is providing humanitarian relief during the crisis on the border.
"I'm excited and inspired by 'Panoramica's' mission to bring these important films to a wider audience," Ferrera said.
All upcoming documentaries in the "Panoramica" series will air in Spanish on Univision or UniMás, simulcast in English or with English subtitles on Pivot.