World Premiere: The Least of These, a new documentary on family detention in the U.S.

Please join us at one of the world premiere screenings of the documentary THE LEAST OF THESE, at SXSW 2009.

The Least of These takes a penetrating look at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, a former medium-security prison that re-opened in 2006 as a prototype family detention center. The facility houses immigrant children and their parents from all over the world who are awaiting asylum hearings or deportation proceedings. As information about troubling conditions at the facility began to leak out, three activist attorneys sought to investigate and address the issues. In telling the story of their quest, the film explores the role (and limits) of community activism in bringing about change. The film leads viewers to consider how core American rights and values – presumption of innocence, the protection of children, upholding the family structure as the basic unit of civil society, and America as a refuge of last resort – should apply to immigrants, particularly children.

The SXSW screening schedule is as follows:

Monday March 16, 11 am, Alamo Ritz (320 E. 6th St.)
Wednesday March 18, 7 pm, Alamo South Lamar (1120 S. Lamar Blvd.)
Friday March 20, 11 am, Paramount (713 Congress Ave.)

There will be a Q&A after each screening featuring the directors, Barbara Hines of the University of Texas School of Law, Michelle Brané of the Women's Refugee Commission, and former detainees.

Admission is with a SXSW Film badge, SXSW film pass, or single ticket (available at each venue 30 minutes before the screening time; price $10.)

For more information, and the trailer, please visit www.theleastofthese-film.com.

(After the premiere, the film will be distributed to the educational/institutional market by Cinema Guild, and to the home video and download-to-own markets by Indiepix. It will also be available for on-line streaming by SnagFilms.)