Soy Andina Film Premieres on New York PBS Tonight

Cynthia Paniagua (R) in Chincha (photo: Florencia Castello)Peruvian culture will get a major public-awareness boost tonight when New York PBS stations broadcast the awarding-winning documentary Soy Andina. (Sept. 10, 10 p.m.; check local listings. The film airs throughout the country starting Oct. 11.)

Soy Andina is one of eight documentary films selected for the new season of Latin Public Broadcasting’s VOCES series on National Public Television, introduced by actor Edward James Olmos — and the first-ever film in the series about Peru.

Soy Andina tells the intersecting stories of two New Yorkers – a modern/hip-hop dance dancer raised in Queens, and a folkloric dancer from the Andes – who embark on dance odysseys through Peru to search for their roots.

I highly recommend the film (see my review from last year) and urge you to see if haven’t done so already.

On a personal note: Since viewing the film in Lima, I’ve become friends with its director, Mitch Teplitsky, and one of its stars, dancer Nelida Silva. Both are talented, deeply commited artists with a heartfelt passion for Peruvian culture. It’s been a pleasure to cheer them from the sidelines as Soy Andina gained critical and audience acclaim throughout the United States. This season’s airing on PBS is the culmination of years of hard work, effort and dedication for the film’s director, crew and stars.

Congrats, guys!