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WXXI News Health, Equity and Community reporter Racquel Stephen profiles members of the Hispanic community in the Rochester area who are making an impact. Go to WXXINews.org to read and listen to her profiles and other stories from local Latino communities. For a full list of WXXI programs and specials that feature Hispanic/Latino Americans, click here.
Meet Adrian Franco, The Man Behind the mic at the Puerto Rican Festival
Meet Daniella Veras, The Mayor’s Right Hand
WXXI’s Family Movie Friday in September will premiere the upcoming special “Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure”!
Join Elmo and the Sesame Street friends on a once-in-a-lifetime African safari adventure. After adopting an orphaned elephant online, Elmo, Abby and Nina travel to The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya to meet the young elephant and the keepers who care for her. In Sesame Street’s first-ever safari, our friends embark on an unforgettable journey of discovery, taking them from the caring confines of the elephant sanctuary to the unpredictable African bush, where they come face to face with some of nature’s most iconic wildlife, including lions, zebras, giraffes and hippos. Presented in collaboration with Sesame Workshop and PBS Nature.
Family Movie Fridays are a series of free family movie nights hosted at WXXI Studios. Families can join our WXXI Education team to watch a PBS KIDS movie or group of themed-episodes, play, and connect with other local families. All Family Movie Fridays are free, but registration is required.
Who: Family Movie Fridays are open to all kids and their families. All kids must be accompanied by an adult (over the age of 18). All adults must stay with their children throughout the entire event. Events are most appropriate for kids ages 2-8 years old.
When: Friday, September 25, 2026. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., movie starts at 6 p.m. Movie running time is about 1 hour; includes either one 1-hour movie or two 30-minute special episodes. Families are welcome to stay for part or all of the movie night experience.
Where: WXXI Studios – 280 State Street, Rochester, NY, Parking is available next door at High Falls Parking Garage
Join WXXI for a FREE screening of American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez, a film produced, written and directed by David Alvarado. Follow the legacy of filmmaker and playwright Luis Valdez. A founding figure of the Chicano Movement, Valdez is best known for his play Zoot Suit, the Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba and the theatre company El Teatro Campesino.
The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion through 9pm.
Details:
“American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez” Screening & Panel Discussion
Thursday, October 1, 2026. Doors open at 6 p.m. Screening starts at 6:30 p.m. Panel ends at 9p.m.
WXXI Studio A
280 State Street, Rochester, NY 14614
Parking available next door at High Falls Garage.
This event is free, but reservations are required due to limited space. Event Details Here
The screening will run from 6:30-8:10pm, followed by a panel discussion which will end by 9pm
Panel Moderator: Julio Sáenz, WXXI Chief Content Officer.
Panelists:
Annette Ramos, Latinx Community Leader, Social Justice Advocate, Arts Curator & Executive Director Rochester Latino Theatre Company
Ricardo Figueroa, Director, School of Film and Animation at Rochester Institute of Technology & John Traver Endowed Professor
Jason Barber, Co-Founder and Curator of ¡Presente! Film Series, Educator /Community Engagement Expert/Artist
Cover Photo: Luis Valdez in interview. Credit: Frasier Bradshaw.
About the film:
The son of migrant farmworkers who became a revolutionary artist, Luis Valdez changed American culture. In the 1960s, his El Teatro Campesino performed on flatbed trucks and helped mobilize farmworkers to win their first union contract. In 1979, his “Zoot Suit” was the first Chicano play ever performed on Broadway. His feature film, “La Bamba” was a breakout blockbuster in 1987 that authentically depicted Mexican American life and shared it with the world. Founded in 1965, Valdez’s El Teatro continues to be a beacon for Latino/a creators. American Pachuco is the story of a pioneering artist who gave voice to the overlooked and opened pathways for generations. Learn more at the American Masters’ Episode Website
Official Trailer
Lights, camera, family fun! This fall WXXI is kicking off a special family series called”Family Movie Fridays”. Families (kids + grownups) are invited to WXXI Studios each month for a PBS KIDS-themed movie experience to watch, play, and learn together.
Family Movie Night is a special opportunity for families to visit WXXI and enjoy a PBS KIDS movie special or collection of themed-episodes on the big screen in our studio! Families can take part in hands-on activities inspired by the featured program, pick up free PBS KIDS learning resources to continue the fun at home, and connect with other families in the community. Along the way, families will also discover how WXXI’s Early Learning Team brings PBS KIDS to life through engaging educational experiences and collaborations that help build a strong foundation for young learners.
For more information and registration, click on the Movie Night below.
October 23: Halloween Boo-nanza!
November 20: Carnival of the Animals
December 18: Holiday Hoopla! (featuring Lyla in the Loop + TBD)
January 22: Winter Wonderland (featuring Molly of Denali & Elinor Wonders Why)
February 26: Odd Squad the Movie
March 19: Acoustic Rooster and the Barnyard Band
April 23: Wild Kratts Our Blue & Green World
May 21: Double Feature: Daniel Visits Somplace Else + Donkey Hodie Roadtrip
Please note the schedule of PBS KIDS movies or themed-episodes is subject to change.
Friday fun! Movie Nights are held on Fridays, once a month, at WXXI Studios. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., and the movie will start at 6 p.m. Running time is about 1 hour.
Registration is required for each event. All of the events are free, but registration is required. Families must register separately for each Family Movie Friday they plan to attend. Upon registration, families will recieve a confirmation email with additional event details.
Bring your own food! Pack dinner, snacks, or whatever your family enjoys munching on during the movie.
Get cozy! Feel free to bring blankets, pillows, or other comfy items to make your viewing experience more enjoyable. Pajamas are welcome! Kids are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite PJs.
Limited seating is available. A small number of tables and chairs will be available on a first come, first served basis. For safety and space considerations, outside chairs are not permitted.
Accessibility accommodations. If someone in your family has accessibility needs, please include them in the registration form and/or contact Rachel Rosner at RRosner@wxxi.org prior to the event so we can help ensure a positive experience for everyone.
Our 74′ × 50′ fully equipped HD studio is built for everything from multi-camera video productions and commercial shoots to live performances. We have an optional stage, green room and concessions area to create the setup that works for your production or event. Hosting an audience? Studio A can accommodate up to 150 guests and offers street-level loading dock access for an easier load-in and load-out.
Need production support? WXXI’s experienced production crew and professional equipment are available to help take your project from setup through production.
Studio A is equipped with professional broadcast production technology, including:
Our production control room connects to Studio A + C and utilizes a Ross Vision 3 switcher and XPression real-time motion graphics system for seamless integration.
Video recording and playback (HD or SD) via profile servers.
CueScript teleprompter system. Calrec Brio 36 input audio console with 360 systems Instant Replay 2 and Digicart-EX audio playback/record devices. CD playback.
Wireless microphones and IFBs along with Telos V Set broadcast phone controller. Producers, directors, and crew staffing are available.
If you need a professional space to record a podcast or create an interview series for your organization, Studio B provides an opportunity to create broadcast quality audio and video content without building your own production setup.
Studio B is a self-contained HD video podcast studio designed for intimate, conversation-driven productions with two to three people.
The fully lit 10′ × 16′ hard green wall, giving creators the flexibility to record stand-ups, custom backgrounds and additional video content during their session.
Studio C is a versatile 43’ x 61’ production space designed for creators, filmmakers and production teams working in today’s evolving video formats. From vertical films and microdramas to social media series, interviews, branded content and green-screen productions, Studio C offers a professional environment for creating high-quality content efficiently.
A fully lit standing set accommodates intimate interviews and discussion-table formats for up to five people, while a 12′ × 32′ corner green-screen cyclorama with floor provides flexibility for virtual environments, visual effects and scripted productions.
For producers shooting vertical series and microdramas, Studio C offers the production infrastructure to capture multiple setups, scenes and episodes in a controlled studio environment—with professional cameras, lighting and WXXI production support available under one roof.
Studio E is WXXI’s dedicated audio recording space for musicians, vocalists, voice talent and anyone who needs professional-quality sound. The Audio Production Suite features an attached voice booth and Pro Tools, creating an intimate environment for everything from audition recordings and demos to music sessions, voiceover and album projects.
Whether you’re capturing a solo performance, recording a small ensemble or preparing an audition that needs to sound its best, WXXI’s professional audio capabilities and experienced production team can help you create a polished recording. From the first take to the final track, record it at WXXI Studios.
One or more videographers available for video and audio capture
WXXI is the only station in the region with a specially equipped HD uplink studio to partner with major US and World networks like ABC, CNN, NBC, MSNBS, FOX-TV, Bloomberg Television, Al Jazeera-TV in the US and Great Britain.
WXXI continues to put a spotlight on the work of Rochester Institute of Technology film and animation students by presenting a series of shorts biannually.
RIT Shorts airs Thursday, September 24 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and the WXXI-TV Live Stream. Repeats Friday, September 25 at 10:30 p.m, Saturday, September 26 at 3 p.m., and Sunday, September 27 at 11 p.m. on WXXI-TV.
RIT Shorts is a bi-annual series that showcases the work of some of RIT’s most impressive student filmmakers, offering these young producers a platform to share their films to a broader audience while offering WXXI viewers the chance to see the incredible talent that RIT is cultivating.
The Interview by Gianneska Romero
Beatrice is unexpectedly interviewed by her childhood self, who questions whether she has achieved the dreams and ambitions she once imagined. As she reveals the disappointment she feels about her life, her younger self rejects her and chooses an idealized version of Beatrice who embodies every childhood aspiration. Heartbroken and unable to follow them, Beatrice is pulled back to reality, where she silently prepares for another shift at her dead-end fast food job.
Apple and the World Eater by Sarah Chen
Apple and The World Eater follows a little girl named Apple and her best friend, Billions, a walking capsule machine, as they confront the cosmic deity that has been consuming their world.
Family Portrait by Ryan Fay
A single view of a family’s kitchen provides a window into a child’s life, as family memories unfold over the years.
Starhead by Samara Reid
Two amateur space cadets attempt to save their captain from a dastardly villain.
Bugs in Hubris by Malachi Spight
It’s a slow summer day. There’s nothing to do and, most importantly, nothing to eat. Three little bugs long for a meal, searching for something to satisfy their hunger. But food may be closer than they think, and retrieving it may come with consequences.
Join WXXI for a special screening that follows the journey of civil rights hero, congressman, and human rights champion John Lewis.
The son of sharecroppers, John Lewis grew up in rural isolation, seemingly destined to a bleak, segregation-imposed future. But his fate took a different turn, and Lewis rose from Alabama’s Black Belt to the corridors of power on Capitol Hill, his humble origins forever linking him to those whose voices customarily go unheard. A man of the people, a Congressional elder statesman, Lewis is as exceptional as he is ordinary.
In honor of HBCU Week, celebrating the group of academic institutions that are classified by the U.S. Government as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, this special screening will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by WXXI News reporter Racquel Stephen.
The event is free and open to the public. but reservations are required.
Details:
John Lewis: Get in the Way, a free screening followed by a panel discussion
Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.)
The Little Theatre
240 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
Our Sponsors
This event is part of WXXI’s HBCU Week programming. The event is also held as part of marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and all the “unfinished revolutions” that have and will increase civil rights for all. This screening is funded in part by a grant from the NY State Education Department & America 250 New York.
Local Community Partners: Rochester Area Community Foundation and RG&E
Explore the story of Dominican-American poet and novelist Julia Alvarez, who burst onto the literary scene and blazed a trail for a generation of Latino authors.
American Masters “Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined airs Tuesday, September 15 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.
Her semi-autobiographical novel, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, was published in 1991, followed in 1994 by In the Time of the Butterflies, which sold over a million copies and raised global awareness about life under Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. Spanning multiple genres and audiences, Alvarez’s work includes three nonfiction books, three poetry collections, 11 books for children and young adults and seven literary novels. This new documentary opens a window into her extraordinary journey from an idyllic, privileged childhood in the Dominican Republic to a life of exile in New York City to a brilliant literary career that shows no sign of slowing down. At 74, she recently published the critically acclaimed novel The Cemetery of Untold Stories.
Filmed in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic, Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined features extensive interviews with Alvarez, her family, and her literary contemporaries. The documentary is produced and directed by Adriana Bosch, an award-winning documentary filmmaker who served as series producer on the PBS series Latino Americans (2013) and Latin Music USA (2009). Born in Cuba, Bosch has produced and written a number of films for the PBS series American Experience, including a film on Fidel Castro and several acclaimed presidential biographies.
Photo credit: Corey Hendrickson