Scottsdale International Film Festival 2008

This is a special free screening for law students, the Arizona Justice Project and VIP Pass holders only. Please note that the screening is held at the Harkins Valley Art Theatre in Tempe.

Director Jesse Quackenbush will attend the screening and participate in a 30-35 minute post-film discussion with the audience.

The inevitable story of failure every American has anticipated but hoped would never have to be told. This documentary takes the 'Innocent Man on Texas Death Row' tale to a dark corner feared by all - - proving that an innocent man has been executed by the State. A clash between good and evil strikes up on the High Plains of Texas when Johnny Frank Garrett, a 17 year old retarded boy is arrested, convicted and ultimately executed for the Halloween night rape, mutilation and murder of Sister Tadea Benz. The 76 year old nun was attacked while she slept in her room at the St. Francis Convent in Amarillo, Texas. Garrett claimed his innocence from the time of his arrest until his dying breath. Sixteen years after Garrett's execution new evidence rose up from the cold case grave of the Amarillo Police Department proving they executed the wrong man! In Garrett's final statement he professed his innocence one last time but did so in a voice driven by hate and vengeance. In his chilling conclusion Garrett promised those responsible for his murder that someday he would have the last word and they would pay for what they had done. For or against the death penalty, THE LAST WORD compels viewers to feel not only the collective pain our societal conscience suffers for executing the innocent but also the individual fear of not knowing what margins of error our judges, jurors and executioners will find acceptable tomorrow.