Cine Las Americas International Film Festival hosted the Austin Premiere of Street Smart: Lessons from a TV Icon, a feature documentary about Sonia Manzano, known to millions as Maria, a character from Sesame Street. This is a very engaging documentary that provides viewers with many interesting stories from Sonia about her life, from her childhood to her regular role on American television. In April 2026, at the Miami Film Festival, the film was a 2026 nominee for the Knight Documentary Achievement Award for Best Documentary.
About: The film follows Sonia’s remarkable journey, from a young girl in the South Bronx finding refuge in television, to becoming the first Latina on American TV in a regular role, through 44 years on screen on Sesame Street, and now as the creator of Alma’s Way. Featuring interviews with luminaries, original animation, and scripted scenes that blend humor and heart, this inspirational documentary invites viewers to learn once again from this beloved icon. Original interviews in the film: Sonia Manzano, Stephen Schwartz, Sonia Sotomayor, Alison Bartlett, Carmen Osbahr-Vertiz, Ryan Dillon, and others.
Director Ernie Bustamante – Biography: He is an Emmy-nominated TV writer-turned-indie filmmaker. Trained in the writers’ rooms of network television, he has written for multiple series, developed pilots for major studios, and created the award-winning satirical web series Border Patrol. Street Smart: Lessons from a TV Icon is his debut feature documentary. Ernie is based in West Hollywood and serves as an Assistant Professor of Screenwriting at LMU. He holds a BA from Stanford and an MFA from UCLA.
Interview: Although I did not conduct the interview on the red carpet, I spoke with him briefly after the film screened. I asked him how he was able to have Ms. Manzano speak so freely and relaxed about her life as noted in the film. He stated that her 2015 memoir, “Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx,” revealed so much about her family life as a child and her path to a four-decade-long career. I was amazed at how easily she spoke, as if the audience were friends or family. I inquired about the film’s distribution later this year, but he said they do not yet have plans.
The film premiered in 2025 at film festivals before coming here to Austin, TX, and continues on the festival circuit. The website shows news of continued screenings at film festivals, so check the film’s website for the upcoming screenings.
Source: CLIFF, film website