The Cinema Arts Center has partnered with The League of Women Voters to present a special screening of the award-winning local documentary “Undocumented” on Saturday, March 21 at 2 pm.
Next, there will be an in-depth round table and a meeting with the public with filmmaker Patricia Shih, Dr. Harold Fernández, protagonist of this film, and Andrea Madrid, legal manager of Carecen, an organization that defends the rights of immigrants.
Accompanying them remotely will be José and Josué Trejo López, two young brothers detained and deported to El Salvador while they were registering with the Immigration Department. The film will be presented with Spanish subtitles.
“Undocumented” tells the extraordinary true story of Dr. Harold Fernández, who came to the United States at age 13 as an undocumented immigrant from Medellín, Colombia.
To reunite with his parents, who had immigrated to the US years earlier, Harold and his younger brother undertook a dangerous boat trip during hurricane season. After years of separation and sacrifice, the family risked everything to pursue the promise of opportunity on American soil.
At first, Harold faced difficulties with language and cultural barriers, but he persevered through academic challenges and eventually gained admission to Princeton University. When his immigration status was revealed, he faced the threat of losing his education and jeopardizing his family’s future.
What followed is an extraordinary story of resilience: Dr. Fernandez graduated from Harvard Medical School and is now a highly respected cardiothoracic surgeon on Long Island, affiliated with Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital. His story offers a deeply personal perspective on immigration, sacrifice, and the enduring promise of the “American Dream.”
For filmmaker Patricia Shih, the topic of immigration is deeply personal. His father emigrated from China in 1945, shortly after the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act, under a severely restricted quota system.
A lifelong artist who has worked in music, visual arts, theater and film, Shih brings a rich creative background and a storyteller’s sensibility to “Undocumented.”
A graduate of the Academy of Art and Lone Mountain Colleges in San Francisco, she has recorded nine albums, written two books, taught fine arts for decades, and received numerous honors recognizing both her artistic achievements and her leadership in social justice.
Since its release, “Undocumented” has garnered recognition on the international festival circuit, receiving awards and nominations at festivals such as the Queens World Film Festival, the Hoboken International Film Festival, the United Nations Association Film Festival, the San Diego Latino Film Festival, and the Accolade Global Film Competition, among many others. The film has been awarded for its narrative, direction, editing and great social impact.
At a time when immigration remains a central issue in the national debate, “Undocumented” offers a timely and deeply human perspective on a topic often reduced to headlines and statistics. By focusing on one family’s experience, the film invites audiences to look beyond the rhetoric and consider the real people whose lives are affected by immigration policy.
The Cinema Arts Center is located at 423 Park Ave, Huntington, NY 11743. Admission to see the documentary “Undocumented” is $20 (Public), $13 (Members).
You can purchase tickets and find more information at www.cinemaartscentre.org .
