PRODUCERS PLUS SOME OF THE POETS , INCLUDING NM STATE POET LAUREATE MANUEL GONZALEZ (!), IN PERSON ALONG WITH  SINA SOUL (aka DIVINA SOUL) TO DO AN LIVE READING!  VARIOUS OTHER SPEAKERS T.B.A.!

“You can kick down my door; you can even strip-search me/Never gonna put out the fire of freedom.”—Larry Kirwan Black 47

The powerful relationship between art, free speech, and resistance takes center stage once again. A special 20th Anniversary Producers Cut of the award-winning 2007 documentary Committing Poetry in Times of War is officially set for release. This updated version brings new life to a film that is even more relevant to our world today than it was two decades ago.

Committing Poetry in Times of War tells the gripping story of Bill Nevins. He was a dedicated high school teacher and poetry coach in New Mexico. In 2003, Nevins was suspended from his job. His crime? Supporting his student poetry team after they read an anti-war poem over the school's PA system. The film tracks the massive wave of student protests, community legal battles, and artistic resistance that followed his suspension. It shines a bright light on the dangers of censorship during times of national fear.

The brand-new 20th Anniversary Producers Cut and in-theater discussion features freshly restored footage, interviews with the original participants, and reflections on how the struggle for free speech has changed over the last twenty years.

"When we first made this film, we wanted to capture a specific moment of political tension and artistic bravery," says the production team. "But looking at the world today—where book bans are rising, teachers face heavy restrictions, and students are still fighting for their voices to be heard—we realized this story isn't just history. It is happening right now. This new cut is a wake-up call and a celebration of the brave young voices who refuse to be silenced."

The original 2007 release won critical acclaim and multiple festival awards for its raw, honest look at American patriotism and the right to dissent. Today, as classrooms and school boards become battlegrounds for free expression once again, the film serves as a vital tool for educators, activists, and artists everywhere.