“Mexican actress Kate del Castillo takes on a new role this fall as spokesperson for The History Channel en español in its Fall Programming Initiative. During Hispanic Heritage Month, the multi-talented television and film star will add the position of host to her repertoire, taking viewers on a journey through the rich history of the Latino experience. From mid-September through mid-October, del Castillo will join the network in a special tribute, highlighting Latin American history and some of its best known protagonists, introducing seven remarkable and diverse documentary films to the Spanish-speaking television audience.
The films are The Pinochet Case (airing Sept. 11), The Sugar Curtain (airing Sept. 15), Señorita Extraviada (Missing Young Woman, airing Sept. 16), Mexican Migration to the U.S. (airing Sept. 23), The Private Archives Of Pablo Escobar (airing Sept. 30), The True Story of Che Guevara (airing Oct. 7) and A Place Called Chiapas (airing Oct. 14).
The daughter of one of Mexico’s greatest film and TV stars, Eric del Castillo, Kate’s artistic career has been filled with success since debuting as a child in her famous father’s films. Her television achievements have positioned her as one of the best in her field not only in her native Mexico, but internationally. On television she has starred in highly rated Telenovelas.
Del Castillo has had the opportunity to show her versatility in such recent projects as Trade, sharing scenes with Kevin Kline; Black Pimpernel, the Sweden/Norway/Mexico co-production where she portrayed a revolutionary in Allende’s Chile, with Michael Nykvist. Her upcoming projects include Julia, with Tilda Swinton, and La Misma Luna, with Eugenio Derbez.
Kate del Castillo was just nominated for Mexico’s highest acting honor, the Ariel award, for her performance as a dancer/prostitute from Bolivia in American Visa. Her theater credits include Love Letters, and Juegos Profanos, with tours in the U.S. as well as runs in Mexico. She has appeared in numerous specials and television programs, including American Family, on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). She has also graced the covers of numerous important Latino publications.
During its Fall Programming Initiative and Hispanic Heritage Month, del Castillo will serve as the voice of The History Channel en español, handling an array of promotional responsibilities and hosting the U.S. debut of several acclaimed documentary films.
“I’m honored to be able to share with a diverse audience some of the remarkable achievements and important aspects of the history and culture of our people,” said Kate del Castillo. “And I’m proud to introduce these important films as we celebrate THE HISTORY CHANNEL EN ESPAí‘OL’s new fall programming Initiative.”
As part of the special events during the month, The History Channel en español will Premiere a full schedule of remarkable documentary programming, offering intelligent, thought-provoking programming from the U.S. and Latin America spotlighting Latino roots and culture.
The programs include:
The Pinochet Case The story of the landmark legal case against General Augusto Pinochet of Chile, before and after his arrest in London in 1998. It explores how a small group of people in Madrid laid the groundwork for an incredible feat — catching a dictator 25 years after his rise to power. Directed by Patricio Guzmán, 109 minutes. Premieres on The History Channel en español on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 8/7c.
The Sugar Curtain An intimate portrait of a generation that began its studies in primary school when the Cuban regime was at its best economically — the mid-1970s. The film recounts this generation’s childhood and explores what happened later, when the socialist regimes of Eastern Europe ceased to exist. It was at that moment that Cuba was left without allies, money or petroleum and the ideals of this generation were dismantled under the paralysis of the system. Directed by Camila Guzmán UrzÚa, 90 minutes. Premieres on The History Channel en español on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 8/7c.
Señorita Extraviada (Missing Young Woman) This documentary tells the story of the hundreds of women who have been kidnapped, raped and murdered in Juárez, Mexico since 1993 without any hope of bringing the perpetrators to justice. The film investigates the circumstances of the murders and the horror, fear and courage of the families whose children have been taken. Directed by Lourdes Portillo, 74 minutes. Premieres on The History Channel en español on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 8/7c.
Mexican Migration to the U.S. October 26, 2006. President George W. Bush signs Resolution 6061, authorizing exploration of a wall extending 1.123 kilometers to be constructed along the border between Mexico and the U.S. In this 2-hour special, The History Channel en español explores the key historical events leading up to this act, from the Mexican-American War in 1846 to today’s efforts to deny entry to Mexican immigrants attempting to cross illegally into “the land of opportunity.” Premieres on The History Channel en español on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 8/7c.
The Private Archives Of Pablo Escobar A rare glimpse into the life of Pablo Escobar, one of Colombia’s most infamous drug lords. With the help of his surviving family members, former associates, and over 600 hours of rare archival footage, this documentary gives viewers an idea of what used to be his home, fortune, and daily routine. It also offers some explanation of his contradictory reputation, and chronicles his rise from a small-time crook to a politically influential drug lord. Directed by Marc de Beaufort, 70 minutes. Premieres on The History Channel en español on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 8/7c.
The True Story Of Che Guevara This special from The History Channel, offers an exciting new look into Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s extraordinary life with interviews from those who knew him best (wives, children, comrades). The film depicts his affluent upbringing in Argentina, to the blood-soaked battlefields of the Cuban revolution, to his proud victories and humiliating defeats and his eventual assassination in the presence of the CIA in the jungles of Bolivia. 120 minutes. Premieres on The History Channel en español on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 8/7c.
A Place Called Chiapas A documentary that gives a firsthand account of the lives of the Zapatistas, led by the charismatic Subcomandante Marcos. It takes viewers deep into rebel territory in Mexico’s Chiapas region, where the Zapatista rebels live and die challenging the Mexican government. Directed by Nettie Wild, 89 minutes. Premieres on The History Channel en español on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 8/7c.
ABOUT THE HISTORY CHANNEL
The History Channel(R) is a leading cable television network featuring compelling original, non-fiction specials and series that bring history to life in a powerful and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. The network provides an inviting place where people experience history in new and exciting ways enabling them to connect their lives today to the great lives and events of the past that provide a blueprint for the future. The History Channel has earned four Peabody Awards, three Primetime Emmy(R) Awards, ten News & Documentary Emmy(R) Awards and received the prestigious Governor’s Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network’s Save Our History(R) campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. The History Channel reaches more than 95 million Nielsen subscribers. The website is located at www.History.com.
ABOUT THE HISTORY CHANNEL EN ESPAí‘OL
THE HISTORY CHANNEL EN ESPAí‘OL is one of four domestic television networks of The History Channel brand. The others are The History Channel, History International and Military History Channel. THE HISTORY CHANNEL EN ESPAí‘OL has emerged as the new “must have” for cable operators. The network is now available on the Hispanic tier on the nation’s top cable systems including Comcast, Charter, Adelphia, Insight, Cox, Cablevision, and NCTC, representing more than 29 million subs in key Hispanic markets including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Southern California, and Tucson. It is available to viewers in 18 of the top 20 Latino markets in the United States. The website for the channel is located at www.history.com/espanol.
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