Define American, New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Museum of the Moving Image to Host NYC Premiere of Jose Antonio Vargas’ “Documented” for Immigrant Heritage Week
Local leaders and community to celebrate the launch of New York City’s Immigrant Heritage Week with NYC premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Jose Antonio Vargas’ Film, “Documented”
(Astoria, NY) – Define American, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Museum of the Moving Image will host local leaders and the local immigrant community for the NYC premiere of Jose Antonio Vargas’ film “Documented” to celebrate Immigrant Heritage Week on Thursday, April 17th, 2014 at 7:00pm at Museum of the Moving Image.
About “Documented”:Vargas began working on the documentary shortly before “outing” himself as undocumented in a groundbreaking June 2011 New York Times Magazine essay, “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant.” Sent here from the Philippines at age 12 by his mother to live with his grandparents – naturalized citizens – in Mountain View, CA, Vargas found out he was undocumented when he was 16. “Documented” follows Jose as he travels around the country, speaking to people across America and sharing his personal experience in order to spark an honest dialogue about immigration and the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US today. The film also explores his relationship with his mom – whom he hasn’t seen in person in over 20 years.CNN Films acquired the North American broadcast rights to “Documented” in November 2013, before its international premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam and following its world premiere at the AFI Docs festival in Washington, D.C. in June 2013.“Documented” is a project of Define American, and executive producers include Sean Parker, Matthew HIltzik, Liz Simons, Scott Budnick, Janet Yang and Kevin Iwashina. “Documented” is the inaugural film by Apo Anak Productions, created by Vargas in honor of his grandparents and mother. In Tagalog, Vargas’ native language, “apo” means grandchild and “anak” means “child.” For more information, please visit: documentedthefilm.com.
Following the film, writer and director Vargas, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Nisha Agarwal and other panelists will join a panel discussion about the power of culture in shaping how people talk about immigration and immigration reform, and what that means for the NYC community.
WHO: Jose Antonio Vargas, Writer and Director, “Documented”, panelist
Nisha Agarwal, Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs panelist
Melissa Mark-Viverito, City Council Speaker, welcoming remarks
*(Additional panelists to be announced)
WHAT: NYC Premiere Screening and Panel Discussion of Jose Antonio Vargas’ Film, “Documented” for New York City’s Immigrant Heritage Week
WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image
36-01 35th Avenue
Astoria, New York
WHEN: Screening: 7:00 PM ET
Panel Discussion: 8:30 PM ET
NOTE: Tickets: $12 public (with discounts for students, seniors, and children) | Free for Museum members. Advance tickets will be available online at http://movingimage.us or by phone at (718) 777-6800.