From Youtube to the Big Screen: Sold out Premiere of "9500 Liberty" Documentary About Failed Immigration Policies and Racist Attacks Against Families

After racial tensions and attacks against Spanish speaking Indigenous immigrants got out of control in their suburban neighborhood, Annabel Park and Eric Byler created the Youtube channel "9500Liberty" by the end of 2007.

Their videos became a way to report, protest and organize against a set of controversial local immigration policies in Prince William County in northern Virginia, and their negative effects in their community.

Annabel Park

Last night and after two years, the documentary film '9500 Liberty" was premiered with a sold out screening at the DC Asian Pacific American Film 2009 Festival. This is what the 9500 Liberty team wrote about their film:

Now a feature-length documentary, this project began as an "Interactive Documentary" on YouTube about the politicization of the immigration issue in Prince William County, VA. During the first year of production, we often responded to viewer feedback, including requests for more coverage on certain story lines, contextual clarifications, and even on-site production. Clips on this page have been shot and edited by independent filmmakers -- Eric Byler, Annabel Park, Jeff Man -- with additional production support from Jonathan Liang Stafstrom, Zhibo Lai, Jay Kim, Tom Moore, Tomiko Anders, Levi Magyar, Leo Torrezao, Luke HIllman and Harry Yoon. Special thanks to Liz Barhns and Dan Rapela at PWC Channel 23 for courtesy footage.

9500 Liberty, the feature film, is produced by Chris and Alex Rigopulos.

I spoke with Annabel Park during the Opening Night Reception:

Also I spoke to several people who saw the film last night, and the overwhelming response was in support of the message this documentary film expresses, towards respecting human rights regardless of immigration status and stopping racism in all its forms.

Most people in the audience where Whites and Asians, and when I asked their opinions about the possibility of an Immigration Reform, they told me they are in favor but they think it will be hard to pass it anytime soon, unless more education and advocacy is promoted among those who are anti-immigrants rights.

Photos and video by Carlos A Quiroz

"9500 Liberty" tells the story of the Fernandez family, immigrants from Mexico whose children were born in the U.S. This family who take pride on their Native American heritage decided to build a wall in their home located in 9500 Liberty Street, in Prince Williams County, in order to protest the anti-immigrant actions taken by the County government and some residents.

What happens next is the beginning of a journey that got many people involved and created stories that show a touching human side of the immigration debate. This is a fascinating film indeed, with a strong message that advocates for immigration reform in the U.S.

Learn more about this film by visiting its official website, and come to the next screening, which will be in Prince William County!

Friday, October 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM
St. Paul's Methodist Church
1400 G. Street
Woodbridge, VA

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