American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez traces the life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in Chicano theater and film, and it arrives in Southern California fresh off a major Sundance Film Festival win. Directed by David Alvarado, the documentary took home both the Festival Favorite Award and the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, cementing its place as one of the year’s most crowd-connecting nonfiction films.

The film follows Valdez’s path from migrant farmworker to cultural force, beginning with the creation of El Teatro Campesino in the 1960s, when performances staged on flatbed trucks helped organize farmworkers alongside Cesar Chavez. From there, Valdez broke barriers with Zoot Suit, the first Chicano play on Broadway, and later reached global audiences with La Bamba, a landmark film that brought Mexican American life to the mainstream on its own terms. Through it all, Valdez persisted in the face of political pushback and industry doubt, opening doors for generations of Latino storytellers.

Alvarado tells this story with energy and style, blending rare archival footage, split screens, and a sharp pachuco narrator who adds humor and perspective. The result is a lively portrait of an artist whose work insists that Chicano history is American history, and that representation onstage and onscreen can spark real change.

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez has its Southern California premiere at the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Screenings take place Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 8:20 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 13, at 11:20 a.m. at the Film Center, Auditorium 2. Filmmakers and participants will be in attendance for Q&As following both screenings.