Free screening of film 'Mariachi High'

AUSTIN (KXAN) - In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, a special screening of the acclaimed film "Mariachi High" will take place at Crockett High School on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Crockett High School’s own Mariachi de Oro will perform and Kelly Sheehan, executive producer of " Mariachi High " will attend. Mariachi del Sur from Bedichek Middle School will also perform.

The event is sponsored by KLRU , Austin's PBS station.

"Mariachi High" presents a year in the life of top-ranked members of Zapata High School’s championship ensemble Mariachi Halcon in the South Texas border town. This is an exuberant coming-of-age documentary about the brightest, most driven and talented Mexican-American teenagers never seen on screen.

At a time when the Latino dropout rate is the highest nationwide, intolerance towards immigrants is growing and public school funding is being cut, "Mariachi High" turns a much-needed affirmative lens on teens who are pursuing excellence through a connection to their cultural heritage, according to KLRU's Maury Sullivan, senior vice president of Community Engagement.

Mariachi De Oro, made up of students from Crockett High School, is a nine-member band led by Joseph Baird. The group performed at Gov. Rick Perry’s inauguration , as well as at the University of Texas and for Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell.