Pivot and Univision have acquired the U.S. TV rights to a documentary with never-before-seen footage of Cesar Chavez’s last act of protest.
The purchase of Cesar’s Last Fast marks the first of 10 documentaries to be co-produced or acquired by Pivot, Participant Media’s cable network aimed at Generation Y, and Univision News (and Latin World Entertainment) as part of their previously announced alliance.
Financial terms of the deal, which was made prior to film’s world debut at the Sundance Film Festival, were not disclosed. Pivot and Univision will premiere Cesar’s Last Fast from Richard Ray Perez and Lorena Parlee simultaneously at an undisclosed date.
Cesar’s Last Fast follows Chavez on what would be his last act of protest, a 36-day, water-only fast to draw attention to the horrific effects of pesticide use on farm workers, their families and communities. Featuring never-before-seen footage of Chavez during his fast and testimony from those closest to him, the documentary weaves together the larger story of his life, vision, and legacy.
“We are proud to partner with Participant Media to expand our high quality content offerings and give our millions of Spanish-speaking viewers the opportunity to enjoy extraordinary programs like this one,” stated Isaac Lee, president of Univision News and CEO of Fusion. “Cesar Chavez is a revered figure in the Hispanic community, and this original documentary will undoubtedly be of great interest to Univision’s audience.”
Noted Belisa Balaban, senior vice president of alternative programming of Pivot: “Cesar’s Last Fast illuminates the idealism and conviction of a man who not only changed the lives of workers in his day, but also serves as a lasting inspiration for today's generation of young activists. Pivot and Univision are the perfect platforms to expose audiences to Chavez's work, spark conversation and illuminate issues. This documentary further spotlights his remarkable story as will Participant and Pantelion’s upcoming feature Cesar Chavez to be released March 28.”
