Noted immigration film coming to GV

Eric Byler knows he has started something, and while the spotlight is on he’s using every minute to get his message out: Everybody needs to get involved if we’re going to address the nation’s problems.

Byler and Annabel Park produced and directed “9500 Liberty,” one of the most compelling documentaries of the past two years. The film follows the residents of Prince William County, Va., in 2007-08, as they struggle with an immigration law much like the one scheduled to take effect this week in Arizona.

The filmmakers caught the ensuing community upheaval on tape and posted their work on YouTube piece by piece as the drama played out over 10 months. Neighborhoods were torn apart, businesses tanked, and longtime friendships took a beating as the bid to “help save Manassas” from illegal immigrants took ugly turns on blogs, at rallies and in public meetings.

Byler and Park make no apologies for telling the story from the illegal immigrants’ point of view, and said they hope the lessons learned will help other communities in the same boat.

“The same lobbyists who wrote the Virginia mandate also wrote Arizona’s SB1070,” Byler said, adding that lawmakers then modified it as they wished.

The Prince William County board of supervisors eventually repealed the measure in the face of escalating costs to implement it, including the purchase of cameras for police cars to fight the inevitable lawsuits.

The documentary has won several major film festival awards and has slowly captured the attention of the nation. Byler said a deal is about to be signed that would give the film wider distribution. The film is named for an address where a banner was hung in opposition to the county’s crackdown.

“9500 Liberty” will be screened for free in Green Valley, Arivaca and Tucson over the next few days. Byler will attend the Green Valley showing and take questions along with immigration lawyer Matthew Green. Denise Morse of Sahuarita will moderate and Alma Sychuk of Green Valley is the host.

“I realize that immigration is Arizona’s flash point right now, but the film and discussion afterward will be limited to asking the director ... questions about the movie,” she said. Green also will take questions about Arizona’s law.

  After the film’s release, Byler and Park launched the Coffee Party Movement, which also has been getting traction. They insist it isn’t a response to the Tea Party movement, and say it is solutions-based and driven by the idea that people must “participate in the democratic process in order to address the challenges that we face as Americans.”

IF YOU GO

Free screenings of “9500 Liberty” in Southern Arizona.

Tucson

•7 p.m. Saturday, Revolutionary Grounds Books and Coffee, 606 N. Fourth Avenue.

•6 p.m. Monday, YWCA Tucson, 525 N. Bonita Avenue. Spanish subtitles; director Eric Byler will answer questions following the film.

Green Valley

•1:30 p.m. Sunday, Joyner Green Valley Library, 601 N. La Canada Drive. Spanish subtitles; director Eric Byler and immigration attorney Matthew Green will answer questions following the film. Information: 594-5295. Seating limited to 100 people.

Arivaca

•5 p.m. Sunday, Arivaca Community Center, 16012 Universal Ranch Road. Spanish subtitles. Information: 398-3010.