Film Screening: "Let the City Speak"

About this event

Join us for a screening of Let the City Speak , a documentary following Quetzal, the GRAMMY-winning Chicano rock band that emerged from East Los Angeles’ vibrant music and arts scene in the mid-1990s.

Led by Quetzal Flores and Martha Gonzalez, the band found inspiration in the mountains of Chiapas, Mexico, embracing a philosophy that would shape their music, community organizing, and grassroots activism for decades. Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Akira Boch, who has documented the band for nearly 30 years, the film explores the enduring connections between music, cultural identity, social justice, and community. It celebrates the Zapatista spirit that continues to guide the band’s artistic and activist work.

Following the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Quetzal Flores , GRAMMY-winning producer, composer, musician, and cultural organizer, and Akira Boch , Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and former director of the Watase Media Arts Center at the Japanese American National Museum.

Through music, activism, and storytelling, Let the City Speak invites audiences to consider how artists can define success on their own terms and use their creative work to inspire meaningful change.

Featured Guests

Quetzal Flores is a GRAMMY-winning producer, composer, musician, and cultural organizer from East Los Angeles. He founded and directs Quetzal, an influential and critically acclaimed band known for its powerful blend of music, community engagement, and activism.

Akira Boch is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and former director of the Watase Media Arts Center at the Japanese American National Museum. A graduate of UCLA’s Film Directing program, his work explores historical memory, diasporic identity, and contemporary culture.

Event Sponsors: SICCA, Muir College, Theater and Dance, and CLS