STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon documents Sonia Manzano's journey from the South Bronx to become the first Latina on American TV in a regular role. Manzano became famous with her 44-year career on screen on Sesame Street and is now the creator of Alma's Way.
The documentary film is directed by Ernie Bustamante and has interviews with luminaries, original animation, and scripted scenes. Sonia was 21 years old when she landed on Sesame Street. Her work on the show included her character of "Maria" as well as a writer for the show. Her work earned her 15 Emmy Awards for writing. In 2016 she was awarded an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award.
"Sonia is also a prolific author, with books such as The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano (which received the Pura Belpré Author Honor in 2013), Coming Up Cuban (2022), and her critically acclaimed memoir Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx (2015)."
In 2021, Sonia created Alma's Way, an animated PBS series about a modern Puerto Rican family in the Bronx. Renewed for a third season in 2025, the show empowers children to think for themselves.
The STREET SMART documentary is part of DOC NYC festival this year. There will be two screenings in which the director Ernie Bustamante and subject Sonia Manzano will be in-person for a Q&A following the screenings. The first in-person screening is Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 2PM at Village East by Angelika. The second in-person screening is Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 11AM at IFC Center. Find your tickets to these screenings here:
https://www.docnyc.net