Freedom Writers: Stories from an Undeclared War will be shown on Wednesday at the Aquarium of the Pacific at 7PM, followed by an intimate question and answer period with the original Freedom Writers.
From Academy Award-nominated director Daniel Anker, the documentary film premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival and showed at the U.S. Capitol on May 4 in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Day. Freedom Writers: Stories from an Undeclared War achieved the Audience Award at the Austin Film Festival and won Best Documentary at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival.
Now Long Beach locals will have a chance to see this award-winning feature about one high school teacher’s belief that her “at-risk” students should have the same opportunities and achieve the same goals as everyone else—the belief that education can “overcome even the worst kinds of adversity.”
Proceeds from the screening will go toward college scholarships for seniors from the Freedom Writers’ alma mater, Woodrow Wilson Classical High School. The scholarships will go toward first-generation high school graduates preparing to be first-generation college students. Attendees will be also be able to participate in the annual raffle benefiting Wilson High scholars.
“Our documentary has been a labor of love since my students were freshman in my class, so to finish it on our twentieth anniversary is very symbolic,” said Erin Gruwell, the founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation. “Our documentary gives a voice to the voiceless by spreading a message of hope for humanity.”
Watch the trailer on VIMEO here; enter the password “freedom.”
To RSVP for the screening, please send an email with the number of people in your party to [email protected]. Admission is $25 per person, accepted at the door.
Those who can’t attend the screening and would like to support a first-generation college student can donate to the Freedom Writers Foundation here.