By Hannah Hagemann, Santa Cruz Sentinal
WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville Film Festival has teamed up with the McEvoy Foundation for the Arts and San Pablo-based musical group Los Cenzontles to present a three-part arts celebration honoring Pajaro Valley area farmworkers and the Mexican Americans who call the region home.
“I’m really excited for people to see all the connections we have between film, music, dance, history and storytelling — that’s intentional with these programs,” said Consuelo Alba, director of the Watsonville Film Festival. “We want to paint a beautiful picture of Mexican culture, the contributions of our farmworkers, our artists and filmmakers.”
Renowned Mexican American music group Los Cenzontles — or “The Mockingbirds” — will join Watsonville-based Estrellas de Esperanza youth folkloric group and traditional Mexican music group Los Originarios del Plan on Friday at the Watsonville City Plaza.
Leading up to the outdoor concert accompanying documentaries can be viewed at watsonvillefilmfest.org beginning Wednesday. The films center on the artists behind Los Cenzontles, who also do nonprofit work brining music education and cultural lessons to children.
A talk with the documentary filmmakers will also stream through the film festival website on Thursday.
“Through this program we are hoping that people will see the beauty and diversity of Mexico, have a conversation with the filmmakers and then join us at the plaza,” Alba said.
It’s the nonprofit’s first in-person event, and the Los Cenzontles’ first live concert, since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. An event Watsonville Film Festival was set to host in March 2020 had to be canceled because of the pandemic.
Los Cenzontles will perform at an outdoor concert next Friday. The musical group is critically acclaimed and has collaborated with the likes of musician Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne. (Contributed photo — Watsonville Film Festival)
The celebration is also in honor of the farmworkers — or “campesinos” — who call the Monterey Bay area home.
“They are essential workers, throughout the pandemic throughout the fires they have been working nonstop, so we really want to recognize their contribution to our community, to society and do it in a joyful way,” Alba said. “In a way that is meaningful and beautiful, bringing all these elements together that are part of the culture of many of the farmworkers.”
After a challenging year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alba said she’s looking forward to seeing the community come together.
“It has been really hard for our community, especially here in Watsonville through the pandemic, so we are very excited to be able to offer this concert to come together in a safe way again to celebrate,” Alba said.
IF YOU GO
What: “Celebrando la Cultura” arts program honoring Mexican American music, culture and bay area farmworkers
When: Watsonville Film Festival / Virtual documentary screenings Wednesday through Saturday. Free concert at the Watsonville Plaza at 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, September 17.
Where: Documentaries screened at watsonvillefilmfest.org. Concert at Watsonville City Plaza, 358 Main St., Watsonville.