Films about the Experiences of Newcomers in America n these films, released in the past several years, immigrant families— Iand those with whom they work, go to school, and interact—describe their experiences in their own words. To help the readers consider ways to utilize documentaries as educational tools, we’ve included some comments from grantmakers about how they are using these films at their foundations and in their communities. INTRODUCTION 207 IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION: THE NEWCOMER’S PERSPECTIVE 208 JOURNEY TO HOMELAND 213 PROFILES 215 NEW & COMING ATTRACTIONS 216 205 206 INTRODUCTION ndependent filmmakers have been SPECIAL THANKS Icapturing the stories of immigrants in the United States for decades, but Active Voice played the lead role in the exponential growth of the immigrant producing the filmography, and we extend population over the past 15 years has our deepest appreciation to its entire generated a surge of high-quality docu- staff but especially to Ellen Schneider, mentaries in recent years. Grace Eng, and Steve Bartz. We also thank Grantmakers in Film and Electronic Putting a human face on complex Media (GFEM) and David Haas for their immigration issues, these films are early support of the filmography and for powerful tools to educate foundations, sharing their expertise with us. We look policymakers, business and civic leaders, forward to partnering with both Active and the general public. They bring today’s Voice and GFEM in the future! rich and varied immigrant integration experiences to life and illustrate the Our thanks go to all the curators, human consequences of policy decisions distributors, and funders who brought in a way that statistics and words alone many of these films to our attention can never do. and who share our excitement for this body of work. Finally, we salute all of This filmography, curated by the talented the filmmakers working on immigrant- staff of Active Voice, highlights nearly related issues—whether or not their 40 films that can open the hearts and works appear in this filmography—for minds and set the stage for productive their creativity and for bringing these discussions on immigration and immigrant powerful stories of today’s immigrants integration. This list is, by no means, to the public’s attention. comprehensive, and we invite you to let us know about other high-quality titles that can inform community discussions ABOUT ACTIVE VOICE on immigrant issues. WWW.ACTIVEVOICE.NET Clips from many of these films, along Active Voice is a team of strategic with discussion questions, are available communication specialists who put on the enclosed DVD-ROM to help you powerful media to work for personal engage foundation colleagues and others and institutional change in communities, in your communities in productive workplaces, and campuses across America. discussions. And if you agree that these Through its practical guides, hands-on clips help build understanding, we strongly workshops, stimulating events, and part- encourage you to consider acquiring the nerships nationwide, Active Voice moves full-length documentaries. All the people from thought to action. By high- distribution information is available lighting compelling personal stories and in this filmography. perspectives seldom found in mainstream media, Active Voice offers a much-needed As your foundation considers immigrant outlet to people across America to speak issues, let us know how we at GCIR and out, listen up, and take the initiative Active Voice can help you use these for positive change. film and video resources to inform your discussions and deliberations. We invite 2601 Mariposa Street you to tell us what you’re learning and San Francisco, CA 94110 whether and how these resources are Tel: 415.553.2841 Fax: 415.553.2848 making a difference in your foundation’s response to the immigration-driven demographic, social, and economic changes taking place in your communities. 207 IMMIGRANT CALIFORNIA AND THE DISTRIBUTED BY AMERICAN DREAM Berkeley Media INTEGRATION: 510-486-9900 Producers/Directors: Paul Espinosa www.berkeleymedia.com THE NEWCOMER’S and Lyn Goldfarb PERSPECTIVE www.beyondthedream.org FUNDED BY The Corporation for Public Broadcasting The Price of Renewal, produced and PBS directed by Paul Espinosa, examines The Ford Foundation community development, philanthropy, and The Independent Television Service (ITVS) civic engagement as an inner-city neigh- Native American Public borhood is redeveloped through a public- Telecommunications private partnership. Set in City Heights, the The Skirball Foundation n these films, released in Ellis Island of San Diego, the film explores Latino Public Broadcasting the past several years, the challenges of creating a vibrant urban I village from an ethnically, culturally, Center for Asian American Media immigrant families—and those and economically diverse population. The California Council for the with whom they work, go to Humanities school, and interact—describe The New Los Angeles, produced and their experiences in their own directed by Lyn Goldfarb, explores the complexities of inclusion in America’s words. We’ve included some largest majority-minority city and the comments from grantmakers new political empowerment of Latinos about how they are using these and immigrants. This portrait of a city films at their foundations and in transition, begins with the multiracial in their communities. coalition which elected Tom Bradley as Mayor in 1973 and ends with the 2005 election of Antonio Villaraigosa, the first Latino Mayor in more than 130 years. “…a coming of age story, where the intersection of electoral politics, grass- roots organizing and coalitions have transformed a city… foreshadows the CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE: choices that cities across the nation will ARAB-AMERICANS IN WARTIME face when increased immigration, the Directors: David Van Taylor proliferation of low-wage jobs, and a and Brad Lichtenstein shrinking middle class force city leaders to rethink their priorities. It is a hopeful www.pbs.org/itvs/caughtinthecrossfire/ story about ordinary people changing Before 9/11, Arab-Americans were an their lives and their city…” immigrant group like any other. Now, — Peter Dreier, Director many feel as if their “Arab” and Urban & Environmental Policy program “American” identities are at war. Caught Occidental College in the Crossfire chronicles three diverse Arab New Yorkers—a beat cop, a minis- ter, and a high-level diplomatic corre- spondent—as they wrestle with their place in wartime America. “In its acute eye and ear for quotidian detail, and in its compassion for innocents, the film proves undeniably affecting.” — The New York Times 208 DISTRIBUTED BY DISTRIBUTED BY Latino Public Broadcasting First Run/Icarus Films PBS The Horace and Amy Hagedorn Foundation www.frif.com/new2002/cau.html www.ShopPBS.org New York State Council for the Arts The Bishop John R. McGann Fund FUNDED BY FUNDED BY The Soros Documentary Fund Independent Television Service The Corporation for Public Broadcasting The Long Island Community Foundation John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur PBS Foundation The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation Public Broadcasting Service Avid Technologies Corporation for Public Broadcasting FARMINGVILLE Generous individual donors Center for Asian American Media Producers/Directors: Carlos Sandoval Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Catherine Tambini Metropolitan New York Synod www.pbs.org/pov/pov2004/farmingville/ www.FarmingvilleTheMovie.com The shocking hate-based attempted murders of two Mexican day laborers catapult a small Long Island town into national headlines, unmasking a new frontline in the border wars: suburbia. For nearly a year, the filmmakers lived and worked in Farmingville, New York, HOLD YOUR BREATH so they could capture first-hand the Director: Maren Grainger-Monsen stories of residents, day laborers, and http://medethicsfilms.stanford.edu activists on all sides of the debate. Hold Your Breath follows the dramatic “Farmingville is a primer for anyone— journey of Mohammad Kochi, a refugee whether lawmaker or citizen—who cares from Afghanistan. An intensely religious to better understand the usually unseen man with a limited understanding of DESTINATION AMERICA cost of America’s appetite for cheap English, Mr. Kochi is diagnosed with labor.” Producers: David Grubin Productions cancer in his late fifties. As he struggles — Carolyn Curiel, The New York Times to cope with his progressing illness, he www.pbs.org/destinationamerica/ index.html DISTRIBUTED BY must navigate his way through the col- Docurama liding cultures of Islam, with its deep They left all that they knew to make 212-206-8600 faith in Allah, and western medicine, with perilous journeys to a country shrouded www.docurama.com its steadfast belief in science. Through in myth and legend. Some came to the intimate emotional experiences of escape religious persecution and politi- In Mexico: the Kochi family and the well-inten- cal tyranny. Some came to escape Cineteca Nacional tioned efforts of the medical practition- poverty, to make a new beginning, to www.cinetecanacional.net ers, Hold Your Breath illuminates the provide support for families they left pivotal role of cross-cultural communi- FUNDED BY behind. They have come for two hundred cation in one man’s battle with cancer. years, and they still come today, for ITVS many reasons, but with one common The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur “…a lovely and moving meditation on Foundation bond: their destination… America… the clash