MTV has acquired rights to 9500 Liberty, a documentary that started
as a Web project and chronicles the social and economic impact of a
controversial immigration law in Prince William County, Va.
Directed by Annabel Park and
Eric Byler, the 80-minute 9500 Liberty
will be simulcast Sunday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m. on three MTV Networks properties:
Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas (formerly MTV Tr3s), MTV2 and mtvU.
The release of the documentary
is timely, as the law known as 9500 is eerily similar to the one that just
passed in Arizona. The Virginia law included a provision requiring police
officers to question anyone they had "probable cause" to suspect was an
undocumented immigrant.
During a private screening
early September in New York, Charlie Singer, head of programming and content at
Tr3s, said the timing of 9500 Liberty
is important because of what's happening in Arizona. The screening included a
panel discussion involving Fernanda Santos, a reporter with The New York Times; comedian Paul
Rodriguez; ABC anchor John Quinones; and the filmmakers themselves.
"Tr3s,
MTV2 and mtvU are the perfect fit for this documentary, because it really
resonates with young voters under 35 as well as with Hispanic audiences young
and old," said Singer.
