<div data-canvas-width=\'522.9206494844781\'>Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four excavates the nightmarish persecution of Elizabeth Ramirez\, Cassandra Rivera\, Kristie Mayhugh\, and Anna Vasquez—four Latina lesbians wrongfully convicted of gang-raping two little girls in San Antonio\, Texas. The film begins its journey inside a Texas prison\, after these women have spent nearly a decade behind bars.</div><div data-canvas-width=\'843.6375250132946\'></div>
<div data-canvas-width=\'843.6375250132946\'>They were 19 and 20 years at the time that allegations surfaced. Using the women’s home video footage from 21 years ago combined with recent verité footage and interviews\, the film explores their personal narratives and their search for exculpatory evidence to help their losing criminal trials. 15 years into their journey\, director Deborah S. Esquenazi captures an on-camera recantation by one of the initial outcry victims\, now 25 years old although 7 at the time of the investigation. This brings the filmmaker into the role of investigator along with attorneys at the Innocence Project\, who are just beginning their quest for truth in this case. In November 23 of 2016 the San Antonio Four were finally exonerated by the court of criminal appeals. The documentary was cited in the first paragraph of the opinion.</div>
Advance registration is encouraged\, but not required. Reserve your spot <a href=\'https://www.eventbrite.com/e/southern-circuit-tour-of-independent-filmmakers-tickets-35799838280\' target=\'_blank\' rel=\'noopener\'>here</a>.

This screening is part of the Jule Collins Smith Museum\'s participation in the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers\, where by they bring contemporary filmmakers to meet with students and museum guests for a special screening of their film. Southern Circuit screenings are a program of South Arts and are funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.