Hoopla Productions and ZUMIX welcomes you to a film screening of “Open Your Heart: Immigrant Stories from Boston and Beyond,” on Saturday, March 16, from 4-5:30pm at the Boston’s Civic Pavilion, 5 Congress Street, Boston City Hall.
Open Your Heart is a deeply moving short documentary about a group of young people who embark on a creative, year-long research and performance project about immigrant stories. The film traces their journey, from interviewing 7 immigrant activists to performing their stories with professional actors in a live staged production at Boston City Hall Plaza in 2023.
Touching, powerful and inspiring, Open Your Heart demonstrates the power of community, support and love, as we immerse ourselves in the complexity of immigrant stories. In hearing stories from our East Boston neighbors, we see some of our own experiences and new possibilities.
Welcome and music by youth artists from ZUMIX. The post-show panel discussion will feature youth interviewers and actors and community activist, Luz Zambrano, reflecting on the making of Open Your Heart.
“I’m not alone in the things that (I’m) going through. Being an immigrant, sometimes you are like, ‘Yea, I’m the only immigrant here.’ No, there are many like you. It’s just you just haven’t discovered them yet.” Samy, ZUMIX actor
“I hope that they take the info and fight for immigrants. I hope they support them and I hope that they’ll bring people into a community instead of pushing them away. It’s very hurtful when you’re pushed away.” Robin, ZUMIX actor
This program is supported in part by grants from The Boston Foundation’s Live Action Grant, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, Mayor’s Office on Immigrant Engagement, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, an anonymous grant from a donor-advised fund of the Mill River Foundation, and Eastern Bank Foundation.