PORVENIR

In the early morning hours of January 28th, 1918, the town known as Porvenir, Texas, ceased to exist.  A group of fifteen fathers, uncles, brothers and sons were taken from their homes and executed in front of their daughters, mothers and sisters.  The perpetrators then burned the town to the ground forcing the remaining residents, made up of mostly women and children, to flee. 

Who were the killers?  Why did they carry out such a horrific act? 

Through new and archival interviews, site excavations and dramatic re-enactments, PORVENIR, TEXAS explores this tragic story, revisits what led to the events of that fateful night, and reveals tensions that remain a century later. Descendants of both victims and killers recount the stories passed down from Porvenir, while others are completely unaware that this crucial piece of history exists.  Their anecdotal evidence points to the possible reasons why the village of Porvenir was targeted, exploring this tragedy on a personal level and understanding how it is relevant in today’s polarized political climate.

SCREENING |  THURSDAY, JULY 13TH |CROWLEY THEATER

TRAILER | USA | 3min.

Andrew Shapter is an American film director, writer and photographer. Shapter is known for his films: Before the Music Dies (2006), Happiness Is (2009), and The Teller and the Truth (2015). Shapter is a partner at creative production company, Roadwings Entertainment, which has offices in Austin, Las Vegas, and San Francisco. Shapter currently lives in Austin, working for C3 Presents as a Video Content Producer.