Duncan Blair on his cattle ranch that runs along the U.S.-Mexican border.
Photo by Catherine Tambini

Community Cinema series addresses immigration reform

What: Free preview screening of The State of Arizona, followed by a moderated panel discussion about immigration reform as it affects our community and nation.

When: Thursday, December 5, 7 p.m.

Where: East Tennessee PBS studio, located at 1611 East Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917

How much: Free and open to the public. No RSVP required. Parking is available behind the studio.

As part of its continuing Community Cinema series of documentary film screenings, East Tennessee PBS is excited to present an advance screening of The State of Arizona, which captures the explosive emotions and complex realities behind Arizona’s headline-grabbing struggle with immigration issues. Following Arizona’s controversial Senate Bill 1070, dubbed the “show me your papers” law, the film tells the stories of Arizonans on all sides of this divisive issue from ground zero of the nation’s immigration debate.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session with guests Dr. De Ann Pendry of the University of Tennessee; Darwin Guerrero, social worker at Austin East High School; and a representative from the Knox County Sheriff’s Department.

Produced and directed by Carlos Sandoval and Catherine Tambini (Farmingville), The State of Arizona premieres on PBS’s Independent Lens on Monday, January 27, 2014, at 10 p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.easttennesseepbs.org/news-and-events/community-cinema/