In 2018, SVJACL completed production of Gambatte Kimashita-Japanese Flower Growers of the Salinas Valley, a documentary film directed by Eric Palmer and produced by SVJACL. The film, the third phase of the chapter's oral history project, was the culmination of efforts that began in 2013 with the mission of preserving the history and stories of the post-WWII refugees from Kagoshima and surrounding areas who had built a successful  flower growing industry in the Salinas Valley and made a significant impact on the local economy and community. 

SVJACL premiered the film to the public on 9/17/2018 at the California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) Salinas Center. The event included a special exhibition, a recreation of a greenhouse, and a reception. 

Also in 2018, then Los Gatos High School Japanese language teacher and current SVJACL board member, Ann Jordan, developed a curriculum for Japanese language classes, centered around the Japanese refugee immigrant stories of the film.  

SVJACL is very proud of the film and grateful that it is available to the public on youtube for viewing and sharing widely. The story that it tells of the immigrant experience, of the promise of America, and how immigrants make our country better is universal, and resonates deeply, especially now. 

Since its premiere, "Gambatte Kimashita: Japanese Flower Growers of the Salinas Valley", has enjoyed numerous public screenings, including at the following events:

Haiku Holiday Film Faire, Los Gatos High School (12/8/2018)

Monarch Film Festival, Pacific Grove (12/8/2018)

Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Immigrant Rights Alliance (2/6/2019)

CSUMB Salinas Center for Arts and Culture event,  People of Two Worlds: Asian Americans in Monterey County (3/8/2019) 

The Japanese Cultural Community Center of San Francisco (8/19/2019)

American Association for Teachers of Japanese screening at ACTFL Conference, Washington, DC (11/23/2019)

SVJACL Day of Remembrance, El Gabilan Library, Salinas (2/22/2025)