Austin Film (Exiled in America) Selected for New York Festival

http://www.angelatorrescamarena.com

Exiled in America, a short film by local director Angela Torres Camarena, has been selected to appear in the ninth annual Media That Matters Film Festival in New York City. Only twelve “inspiring” films made the cut, and beginning on June 4th they will all be available for public viewing through the festival’s Web site.

Previously shown at the Phoenix Film Festival and Cine Las Americas, Exiled in America follows the lives of five siblings whose mother (a lawful, permanent resident of the United States, by the way) has recently been deported to Mexico. The children struggle to survive without her, and though the film is a mere ten minutes long, it deftly captures the pain so commonly wrought by nonsensical immigration policies.

The Media That Matters Film Festival transcends the usual by inviting everyone - not just festival attendees - to watch the diverse and provocative jury-selected films by streaming them online (through the festival site, Netflix, Miro or iTunes) after the official event takes place on June 3rd. The goal of the festival organizers is to eventually screen the films in as many communities as possible, hopefully inciting feelings of outrage and effecting positive worldwide change as a result.

Congrats to Torres Camarena for putting her talents to good use. We can’t wait to check out the stirring stories she and the other socially conscious filmmakers have taken the time to craft. As another brain-dead summer movie season begins, it’ll be nice to have the choice to watch something that matters.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.