Pluralities Conference: Medias Movements Migrations

The Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies at San Francisco State University is a proud co-sponsor of the Pluralities Nonfiction Film Conference.

Join us November 4th and 5th at San Francisco State University for an exciting line-up of filmmakers, researchers, VR, and discussion about all things nonfiction.

Free and open to the public but registration is required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pluralities-nonfiction-film-conference-medi...

The 2019 conference will address themes such as Medias, Movements and Migrations.

We welcome keynote speakers:
-Scholar, Hamid Naficy (Northwestern University)
-Filmmaker, Alex Rivera (The Infiltrators)
-Activist, Viridiana Martinez (National Immigrant Youth Alliance).

Hamid Naficy is a leading authority in cultural studies of diaspora, exile, and postcolonial cinemas and media, and of Iranian and Middle Eastern cinemas and media. His areas of research and teaching include these topics as well as documentary and ethnographic cinemas. He has published nearly a dozen books (some award-winning) and scores of book chapters and journal articles. In addition, he has lectured widely, nationally and internationally, and his works have been cited and reprinted extensively and translated into many languages. Naficy has also produced many educational films and experimental videos and participated in major international film festivals, curated film series, and initiated the annual Iranian film festivals in Los Angeles in 1990 and in Houston in 1992.

Award-winning director Alex Rivera and activist Viridiana Martinez will also be present during a special screening of their film The Infiltrators (2019). Without warning, Claudio Rojas is detained by ICE officials outside his Florida home. He is transferred to the Broward Transitional Center, a detention facility used as a holding space for imminent deportations. Terrified of never seeing him again, Claudio’s family contacts the National Immigrant Youth Alliance (NIYA), a group of activist Dreamers known for stopping deportations. Believing that no one is free as long as one is in detention, NIYA enlists Marco Saavedra to self-deport with the hopes of gaining access to the detention center and impeding Claudio’s expulsion. Once inside, Marco discovers a complex for-profit institution housing hundreds of multinational immigrants, all imprisoned without trial.