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watch a festival
immigration
The following films from the multiple Media That Matters Film Festival collections explore the issue of immigration. For even more films on this issue, visit MediaRights.org.
By-Standing: The Beginning of an American Lifetime
Official selection of the
Seventh Annual Festival
Day Job

From the beginning, filmmaking and positive social change have always gone hand-in-hand for me. After working with non-profit organizations such as Environment California, the Human Rights Campaign, and CalPIRG, I was further inspired to use my strengths in filmmaking to help facilitate progress in our communities. In October of 2009, I had the opportunity to create a film that could make such an impact—Day Job.
We’ve all seen day laborers standing and waiting in public places, but most of us pass by without thinking twice. I wanted to discover the story behind these workers—who are they and what are their lives like? This is a current, pressing issue, commonly ignored by the media; this is a group of people with little to no voice in our society; this is happening right now, in my city, and many cities across the country.
During the making of my film, I found Faye, a temporary employer of laborers. She has an extraordinary perspective that I felt I had to share with the world. With the help of four translators, which included two crewmembers, I was able to record the images and voices of a shunned community, for all the world to see.
Official selection of the Tenth Annual Media That Matters
Exiled in America
Official selection of the
Ninth Annual Festival
Face to Face: Stories from the Aftermath of Infamy
Official selection of the
Third Annual Festival
Immersion
Official selection of the
Ninth Annual Festival
Is My Neighbor Latino?
Official selection of the
Third Annual Festival
La Hoja
Official selection of the
Ninth Annual Festival
Rights on the Line: Vigilantes at the Border
Official selection of the
Seventh Annual Festival
The Next Wave
Official selection of the
Ninth Annual Festival
The Rules of the Game
Official selection of the
Sixth Annual Festival
The Sixth Section
Official selection of the
Fourth Annual Festival
Vision Test
Official selection of the
Third Annual Festival
Why Do White People Have Black Spots?
Official selection of the
Ninth Annual Festival
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“Media That Matters is about people making the switch from apathy to action.”
— Sarah McLachlan








