UpStares Productions is comprised of 10 students in Villanova University's Social Justice Documentary program. We strive to provide an outlet for our audiences to think about the injustices in the world in a constructive way, while also encouraging them to eradicate injustice on a small scale in their everyday lives. Through the medium of film, we provide a glimpse of the world through the eyes of
young immigrants living in Philadelphia. We challenge our audiences to see their connections to the individuals in our films and to the diverse groups of people living in their own communities. "OUT OF THE SHADOWS"
Our most recent project is a short documentary called "Out of the Shadows", which tells the story of Fernanda Marroquin, a 22-year-old woman living in Philadelphia and dealing with the hidden realities of being an undocumented immigrant. Fernanda is one of a growing group of youth who call themselves the DreamActivists—brought here as children they played no role in their own illegal immigration, yet find themselves reaching adulthood unable to work, receive financial aid for college, or even get a driver’s license. What began as a movement in support of the Dream Act legislation (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) has grown into a national movement of youth who are undocumented, unafraid, and unapologetic. They take to the streets to fight for their rights, risking their own arrest and deportation to take a stand against the system that they feel has betrayed them. As Fernanda comes out of the shadows and becomes a voice for her peers who have been detained for possible deportation, she also struggles with her own immigration status and limited opportunities for her future. We join her on her journey to find success in the country she has called home for over 10 years, and in the process witness one woman’s fight to make her voice heard in the raging debate that is immigration in the United States.
