MIAMI, Nov. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In 1994, four Latinas lesbians were wrongfully convicted of aggravated sexual assault and indecency against two young girls in San Antonio, Texas. Almost ten years later all four women were set free, but still struggle to be exonerated of the charges. The documentary CAZA DE BRUJAS EN SAN ANTONIO directed by Deborah S. Esquenazi, investigates the case and the devastating impact it had on the lives of these four women and their families. The documentary will air on US Hispanic television on Sunday, November 13th at 9PM E/P on Discovery en Español during the Discovery a Fondo block.
Critically acclaimed at film festivals, CAZA DE BRUJAS EN SAN ANTONIO (Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four), begins its journey inside a Texas prison, over a decade after Elizabeth Ramírez, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Anna Vasquez (labeled the San Antonio Four), were sentenced to 37 and 15 years in prison. None of the women ever took a plea bargain or ever considered it, and always maintained their innocence. In 2012 and 2013, they were finally liberated after one of the accusers recanted her statement and forensic evidence used in the case was debunked.
Through interviews with the four women, their families, and lawyers, as well as footage and unreleased videos, the documentary director reveals the odd claims and injustices that were portrayed on these individuals due to their sexual orientation during the “Satanic Panic” of the 1980-90. The production also follows the work of attorneys from the Innocence Project of Texas, who played a pivotal role on the women’s ultimate release from prison.
CAZA DE BRUJAS EN SAN ANTONIO is produced by Motto Pictures and Naked Edge Films with Deborah S. Esquenazi as director and Sam Tabet as producer.
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Acerca de Deborah S. Esquenazi
Deborah S. Esquenazi is a documentary filmmaker, radio producer, curator, journalist. Her work explores the intersections of mythology & justice, identity & power. She is a Rockwood JustFilms Ford Foundation Fellow, 2016; Firelight Media Lab Fellow, 2016; Artist-in-Residence at the Mexican-American Cultural Center in Austin, 2016-19; Sundance Creative Producing Fellow, 2015; Sundance Documentary Film Fellow, 2014. Her projects have received support from Humanities Texas, Sundance Institute in association with JustFilms Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundation, Chicken & Egg Pictures, IFP, Arcus Fund, Paul Robeson Fund, and many others.
About Discovery en Español
Discovery en Español connects Spanish-speaking viewers in the U.S. to the world and all its wonder and possibilities. It provides quality programming focusing on bold storytelling across core genres including adventure, ingenuity, natural history, investigation and current affairs. Created by Discovery Communications, Discovery en Español is widely distributed on Hispanic tier packages throughout the country. For more information, please follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, Twitter @DiscoveryenESP, Instagram @discoveryenespanol and YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/discoveryenespanol.
