"Americano" Film Project Challenges Notions of Patriotism & Citizenship

02/18/17 • 87 min

Filmmakers Tim Viola (Twitter/IG: @tviola) and Kris Mendoza (Twitter: @krismendozzzaaa; IG: @maestrofilmworks) chat with host Tieshka Smith about "Americano," an exciting and very timely new film project slated for production right here in the city of Philadelphia. Americano is about a Syrian refugee who desperately chases US citizenship only to have it ripped away by a corrupt statesman, but not before inspiring the beginnings of a resistance. Conceived well before Trump came on the political scene, Americano tackles the preconceived notions that we have about Muslim immigrants, turning them on their head. It asks viewers to consider this fundamental question: What if the patriot we need right now, isn’t a citizen? We'll talk about this exciting new project, why Philadelphia is the perfect setting for it, why we need a film like this right now, and the ways in which the community can get involved. Check out Americano on the web: Website: http://americanoshortfilm.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanoMovieIG: @americanofilm ABOUT AMERICANO: Americano is a short, independent film written and directed by Tim Viola. Inspired by the hope and sacrifice of the American dream, Viola wanted to capture what the true core of this idea is and to remind Americans of the promise that lies in every individual. Viola teamed with award-winning filmmaker Kris Mendoza and Guillermo Cameo as Director of Photography. Cameo's projects have been featured all over the world. The cast includes Adam Budron, Rick Schnieder, Melody Vargas, and Esin Varan.

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