Moises Serrano is making the North Country one of his stops with his 2016 award-winning film Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America.

Based on his personal journey as an undocumented immigrant, the film ties together two parts of Serrano’s life that have left him untethered and unaccepted in the country he calls home.

Since he arrived in the United States as an 18-month-old he has navigated a world where he is not accepted for who he is, or who he loves.  “I believe that change can happen through the power of stories and the power of sharing my story,” says Serrano. “This film was a grassroots effort and took four years to finish. It’s an educational tool wrapped up in heartwarming story.”

Serrano’s film documents his life in rural North Carolina where he and his family live and work. His story starts out as a personal quest as he discovers limitations to achieving his own American Dream. Serrano’s fears and frustrations grow as he transitions from a high school student near the top of his class destined for college to a factory worker and activist. Along the way, Serrano discovers a new support system and the tools to speak out for other marginalized people. He is, he says “queer, undocumented, and unafraid.”

“I identify as an American without papers. I’ve traveled around the country watching screenings of this film and see that American audiences want to be informed,” says Serrano. “I want to continue to have healthy dialogs and answer questions. People shouldn’t be afraid of what they don’t know.”

Serrano will be at Saranac Lake’s Pendragon Theatre on Monday, September 30th as well as at SUNY Plattsburgh Yokum Hall on Tuesday, October 1. Both screenings will take place at 7 pm with an introduction by Serrano and audience Q&A following the film. Suggested donation is $10 and free for students. The film is also currently available on Amazon Prime, but the opportunity to ask Serrano questions is well worth the effort to get off the couch and into the theatre.