Bangor Studio/Membership Department
63 Texas Ave.
Bangor, ME 04401

Lewiston Studio
1450 Lisbon St.
Lewiston, ME 04240

Portland Studio
323 Marginal Way
Portland, ME 04101

Registered 501(c)(3) EIN: 22-3171529
© 2025 Maine Public
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Scroll down to see all available streams.

I COME FROM AWAY: An Immigrant in Maine Part Two Screenings and Discussions

Nyamuon Nguany (Moon) Machar focuses her lens on the extraordinary effort made by the city of Sanford, Maine, to accommodate hundreds of asylum seekers who showed up unexpectedly one day in the spring of 2023.

Moon Machar
Moon Machar

Known as "the city which never dies" because of its resilience after the decline of the once-thriving textile industry, the city of Sanford responded in force at every level. City officials, community action workers, police and volunteers jumped into the fray. Where to put the new arrivals? How to feed them? The immigrants showed up on a Friday in front of Sanford City Hall, which was closed at the time. With no help from the federal or state governments, Sanford was on its own. In this new film, Moon tracks this incredible story over the course of several months as these new Mainers learn how to apply for work permits and adapt to their first winter in Maine.

This documentary follows on the heels of Moon’s initial I Come From Away where she tracked asylum seekers arriving in Portland primarily from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Moon documented the city’s response to what was considered a crisis at the time.

An Immigrant in Maine Part Two is directed by multiple EMMY winner Charles C. Stuart. The film is a production of Stuart Productions in association with Indigo Arts Alliance and the Nasson Community Little Theater.

WATCH both documentaries on Maine Public Television:

A group discussing housing and job opportunities in the Sanford area; from I Come From Away: An Immigrant in Maine Part Two.

I Come From Away Part One
Thursday, February 20 at 9:00 pm
Friday, February 21 at 1:00 am
Saturday, February 22 at 2:00 pm

I Come From Away Part Two
Thursday, February 27 at 9:00 pm
Friday, February 28 at 1:00 am
Thursday, March 20 at 9:00 pm
Friday, March 21 at 1:00 am
Saturday, March 22 at 2:00 pm

ATTEND a Community Screening and Panel Discussion:

Springvale (Sanford) Screening:
Friday, February 21

Nasson Community Center and Little Theatre
457 Main Street, Springvale
Doors open: 5:30 pm
Screening starts: 6:00 pm

Post Screening Panel:
Moderator: Nyamuon Ngyany Machar
Panelists: Steven Buck Sanford City Manager, Jennifer Davie, House Coordinator York County Community Action Corporation, and Ndombaxe Pedro Community Health Worker, YCCC.

Note: Parking is available behind the Nasson Little Theater in the big parking lot. Entrance is off Bodwell Ct. after Springvale Library. Overflow parking is across the street at DMV/Walgreens parking lot.

Reserve your FREE tickets here!

Portland Screening at the Indigo Arts Alliance COMPLETED on Feb. 7.