This Weekend, Massey’s Professional Outfitters will host the world Premiere of a new documentary that highlights the local and independent spirit of New Orleans businesses that were affected by Hurricane Katrina.  Please read the full release below for more information about the movie and the showing.

NEW ORLEANS, LA, August 27, 2008 – In the days and weeks after Katrina, New Orleans’
independent businesses—her coffee shops and cafes, her bars and bookstores and hardware stores
– offered islands of civility and community in a depopulated and demoralized city. These
businesses held the promise that New Orleans would soon rise from the ruins to be a livable city
once more.

From one of the city’s most celebrated chefs who manned a soup kitchen to the hardware store
owner who kept looters at bay while providing vital supplies, director Hanson Hosein and
producer Tom Powers have captured the spirit of resilience and innovation of New Orleans’
independent business owners in their documentary film, Independent America: Rising from
Ruins. It is the inspirational story of the small businesses that risked everything to resurrect their
neighborhoods after the worst natural disaster in American history — even as they are now
challenged by government policies skewed to favor corporate chain retailers.

Shot in full high-definition digital video, Rising from Ruins will have its worldwide premiere as
part of “New Orleans Speaks: We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting for,” a daylong conference
sponsored by The New Orleans Institute.

Seating is limited; to reserve a space, call 232-7821. To view a trailer, and for more information
about the conference, go to http://www.theneworleansinstitute.org/news4.php.

Independent America: Rising from Ruins Official Trailer from HRH Media on Vimeo.

What: World Premiere of Independent America: Rising from Ruins
(http://risingfromruins.com/)

Where: Massey’s Professional Outfitters (upstairs), 508 N. Carrollton Ave.

When: Saturday August 30, 2008; 6-9 pm

6 pm - First seating
7 pm – Light refreshments and discussion with filmmaker
8 pm – Second seating
Who: Open to the public.

Suggested donation: $10, with proceeds benefiting Stay Local