Catch a special screening of the new movie “Cesar Chavez” at Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 in Turkey Creek at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 5.

Following the movie, Julz Chavez, a great-niece of the legendary farm worker advocate, and Mayor Madeline Rogero will facilitate a 45-minute Q & A session in the auditorium.

Mayor Rogero has a special connection to this film.  She postponed her college studies in the mid-1970s to work with Cesar Chavez in the movement to help farm workers improve their living and working conditions.

“That experience really instilled in me a sense of working for economic fairness, as well as the need to embrace inclusion and diversity,” Mayor Rogero said.

Centro Hispano de East Tennessee, HoLa-Hora Latina, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of East Tennessee and Regal Entertainment Group are sponsoring the special screening. The master of ceremonies will be WVLT Channel 8’s Marco Villarreal.

“Regal Entertainment Group is proud to be working with some of the leading Hispanic organizations in East Tennessee, Mayor Rogero and Julz Chavez for a special screening,” said Samantha Owens, Hispanic marketing and PR coordinator at Regal Entertainment Group. “Hearing from those who have had first-hand experience working with such an iconic figure in civil rights will provide a unique perspective.”

Julz Chavez, founder and principal of Chayo Productions, has penned a script, “King Chavez,” which chronicles the correspondence between Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar E. Chavez. She’s also developed “Labor of Love,” the biopic mini-series of her family’s legacy.

Seating is limited, and interested guests are encouraged to make their purchase early. Tickets to the special screening may be purchased at the box office or in advance online at www.REGmovies.com/theatres by selecting the 3 p.m. April 5 show date.
               
The biopic, directed by Diego Luna, was screened this week at the White House. It was an audience award winner, in the narrative spotlight category, at the South by Southwest Film Festival.

The April 5 event is part of a year-long series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.  Under the title “Unfinished Business: Then, Now & Going Forward,” the series includes lectures, films, panel discussions and other events. For a calendar of activities, see http://www.cityofknoxville.org/civilrightsact.