AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT IMMIGRANT YOUTH AND LAS POSADAS COMES TO PHOENIX
Posadas Project Creates Documentary on Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth
Spokane, WA–”Posada”, an award-winning documentary film written, directed and produced by Rev. Mark McGregor, S.J., will be shown on Saturday, November 14th, at Carl Hayden High School at 1 PM. Aguila Youth Leadership Institute, which serves Latino youth, is hosting a free viewing of “Posada”. Last week “Posada” was screened by The Big Picture Documentary Films Series for Faith and Culture, in Los Angeles.
“Posada”, translated into English means “shelter.” The 57-minute documentary focuses on the journeys of three boys and a mother who immigrate to the United States. It compares their journeys to Las “Posada”s, a traditional Christmas procession from Mexico that re-enacts Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter.
“Posada” is part of the “Posada”s Project, a national initiative in the United State that McGregor directs. It promotes Las “Posada”s and education and advocacy for immigrants.
“The project’s overall goal is to help motivate millions of people to participate in Las “Posada”s. The project also affirms America’s heritage as refuge for immigrants and refugees,” Rev. McGregor said. “My deeper motivation to do “Posada” came from hope-filled conversations with the films featured subjects- Densi, Johny, Wilber and Amalia.”
Amalia Molina, author of “The Power of Love: El Poder del Amor.” Its featured youth are Johnny Figueroa, Densi Diaz and Wilber Garcia. Among the film’s experts and advocates, is narrator Javier Stauring, a Human Rights Watch honoree and co-director of the Office of Restorative Justice for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Rev. Rick Ryscayage, S.J. Director of the Center for Faith and Public Action at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT.
“Posada” represents McGregor’s artistic response to the American Bishops’ call for the Justice for Immigrants campaign. The documentary was inspired by Las “Posada”s, the annual Mexican Christmas celebration that is also held in many Latino communities in the United States.
Recent grants from Our Sunday Visitor Foundation and the Catholic Communication Campaign have paid for development of a DVD companion guide, an updated Website, distribution of “”Posada”” and other resources to help communities affected by immigration. An important development is the “Build A Bigger “Posada”s” Contest, which aims to unite schools, churches and organizations serving migrants and refugees.
“Posada” received the Best Short Documentary award from the 2008 Orlando Hispanic Film Festival, and earned the Prize for Human Rights and Religion by the 2007 Religion Today International Film Festival in Trent, Italy. The Telly Awards gave it a Bronze Award. Rev. McGregor produced “Posada” with students and production assistance from Fairlfield University, where he taught from 2003-2007. Its post-production was overseen by Loyola Productions, Inc. Rev. McGregor also received a fellowship from Santa Clara University to help with the project.
“Posada” is available to retailers and direct consumers at www.LoyolaProductions.com Journalists can receive additional information about “Posada” through its Pressroom at www.LoyolaProductions.com/”Posada” or direct contact through Joseph Ossello at (509) 768-1673 or via e-mail at joeposadasproject@gmail.com
