The Californer - Artbound: "The Cheech" Awarded Two 2025 LA Area EMMY Awards — Honored in ARTS & MUSIC COMPOSITION

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ARTBOUND: "THE CHEECH" (PBS SoCal), featuring Cheech Marin and directed by Varda Bar-Kar, wins two LA Emmy Awards. The one-hour documentary follows Cheech Marin's decades-long journey to elevate Chicano art into the cultural mainstream, culminating in the opening of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture in Riverside, California.

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- ARTBOUND: "THE CHEECH" reveals the complexity, vibrancy, and historical importance of the Chicano Art movement at this critical time, when the Chicano community is suffering from the unsettling impact of discriminatory immigration policies that are creating widespread fear and disruptions within immigrant communities throughout Southern California.

Directed by Varda Bar-Kar, an award-winning filmmaker known for Fandango at the Wall (HBO/MAX), Big Voice (Netflix), and Janis Ian: Breaking Silence (Apple TV, Prime Video, PBS). ARTBOUND: "THE CHEECH" continues her legacy of telling emotionally resonant, socially engaged stories. Varda brings poetic vision and personal insight to this exploration of Chicano identity, culture, and the transformative power of art. She is also the founder of Wild Rose Pictures, a production company committed to cinematic artistry and dedicated to creating meaningful entertainment.

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Produced by Alessandra Pasquino, award-winning documentary producer and co-founder of GroundStorm Media, the film is a testament to her commitment to culturally rooted, artistically bold filmmaking. Pasquino guided the project in collaboration with PBS SoCal's Executive Producers Tamara Gould and Angela Boisvert, producer Nic Cha Kim, as well as Cheech Marin and Melissa Richardson Banks.

CREATIVE COLLABORATION HONORING CHICANO ARTS LEGACY

The documentary is brought to life by a talented creative team that includes:

Director of Photography: Matthew Wilder, whose striking visual work honors both the intimacy and grandeur of Chicano art.
Editor: Edgar Sardarian, who shaped the film's multilayered narrative into a cohesive and emotionally compelling arc.
Composer: Ameya Saraf, whose original score earned the Emmy® for Outstanding Music Composition, enriching the film's spirit with deep emotional resonance and cultural texture.

The film's Emmy® win in the Arts (Culture/History) category recognizes the collaboration and artistic excellence of the entire production team.

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ABOUT GROUNDSTORM MEDIA, WILD ROSE PICTURES, AND PBS SOCAL

GroundStorm Media, co-founded by Alessandra Pasquino and Juliette Marquis, is a mission-driven production company dedicated to bold, culturally resonant storytelling that uplifts underrepresented voices.

Wild Rose Pictures, founded by Varda Bar-Kar with Managing Partner Patrick S. Bennett, creates bold, emotionally resonant films that illuminate the human experience and reflect a deep commitment to creative authenticity.

PBS SoCal (KOCE/KCET) is Southern California's flagship PBS station, known for its award-winning documentaries and public service programming that reflects and serves the region's diverse communities.

ARTBOUND:" THE CHEECH" SHOWCASES GROUNDBREAKING ARTISTS

The documentary features the artists listed below.

Judy Baca
John Valadez
Patssi Valdez
Vincent Valdez
Cici Segura Gonzalez,
Sandy Rodriguez
Michael Alverez
Alfonso Gonzales jr.
Manuel López
Jaime Muñoz
Shizu Salamando.

For filmmaker interviews and/or other press materials:
Contact Alessandra Pasquino @ contact@groundstormmedia.com