Press
“In a world where children’s media shifts faster than ever — and public broadcasting faces existential threats — Street Smart arrives as both a celebration and a warning. By the time it reaches wider audiences in 2026, its message may feel even more urgent.”
ETALK (CTV) - TV Interview with Sonia Manzano & director Ernie Bustamante
PIX 11 - New York Living - STREET SMART DOC NYC Premiere - TV Interview with Sonia Manzano
WNYC - ALL OF IT WITH ALISON STEWART - DOC NYC: "Street Smart" Celebrates Maria of 'Sesame Street' — Radio Interview with director Ernie Bustamante
KPBS Midday Edition - Radio Interview - Live from San Diego Comic-Con with director Ernie Bustamante
DEADLINE Emmy-Winning Actress-Writer Sonia Manzano Honored For 44-Year Career On ‘Sesame Street’ And More – Miami Film Festival
WLRN From the South Bronx to Sesame Street: The evolution of Sonia Manzano, who played beloved 'Maria'
DEADLINE Miami Film Festival Announces 2026 Lineup & Honorees. Sonia Manzano Will Receive the Impact Award.
VARIETY ‘Tuner’ and ‘Power Ballad’ Lead 2026 Miami Film Festival.
THE 74 A curated look at the key panels, workshops and sessions to check out at SXSW EDU 2026 in Austin, March 9-12.
KPBS For the opening night feature, SDLFF is showing "Street Smart: Lessons from a TV Icon"
MOVIE MAKER MAGAZINE Sesame Street, Yard Signs and Love Birds Are Among Highlights of NFMLA’s DocuSlate Program
POV MAGAZINE Review: “Street Smart: Lessons from a TV Icon – ‘Tía’ Maria”
WNYC - ALL OF IT WITH ALISON STEWARTDOC NYC: "Street Smart" Celebrates Maria of 'Sesame Street'”
TOUGH PIGS Review: “Street Smart: The Sonia Manzano Documentary”
SARAH G. VINCENT (ROTTEN TOMATOES–APPROVED CRITIC) Review: “A poignant and stunning feature debut.”
CURRENT“New documentary examines life of ‘Sesame Street’ trailblazer Sonia Manzano”
PAGE SIX / NEW YORK POST “Maria from ‘Sesame Street’ reveals she had flirtatious chemistry with Oscar the Grouch — and loved his wildly inappropriate quips”
GOLD DERBY “‘Sesame Street’ icon Sonia Manzano on legacy, her new documentary, and the ‘cruelty’ of defunding public media”
WOMAN’S WORLD “Sonia Manzano Talks Her Legendary 44-Year Run as Maria on 'Sesame Street' (EXCLUSIVE) ORIGINAL”
HIPLATINA “Sonia Manzano’s story comes to life in “Street Smart: Lessons From a TV Icon””
NEW YORK LIVE “Sonia Manzano gives ‘Lessons From a TV Icon'”
PEOPLE MAGAZINE “Sonia Manzano Shares How Robin Williams Became Her Favorite Sesame Street Guest, Despite Ignoring Most of Her Script (Exclusive)”
PIX11 NEWS “'Street Smart: Lessons from a TV Icon'”
PEOPLE MAGAZINE “Maria From Sesame Street, Sonia Manzano, Remembers Being Scolded for 'Throwing in a Lot of Spanglish' on the Show (Exclusive)”
VARIETY “DOC NYC Unveils 16th Annual Film Lineup”
KPBS - MIDDAY EDITION “Midday Edition live from San Diego Comic-Con!”
REELNEWZ Review: “Being Street Smart on Jefferson at the Oak Cliff Film Festival”
KERA NEWS “The Oak Cliff Film Festival wants you to come back to the theater for real movies”
THE CONTENDING Review: “The Nostalgic and Sweet Street Smart Lets Sonia Manzano Tell Her Story”
DEADLINE “Geena Davis-Led Bentonville Film Festival Announces 2025 Lineup, Honors For Lucy Liu, Al Roker”