OUR HERITAGE, OUR PLANET FILM WEEK 2023 PROGRAM GUIDE
WELCOME TO OUR HERITAGE, OUR PLANET FILM WEEK 2023 On behalf of the Hispanic Access team, our grantees, the filmmakers, and consultants participating in this year’s Our Heritage, Our Planet Film Week 2023, we thank you for joining us for our third annual celebration of our cultura, heritage, and planet. Un abrazo, Hispanic Access Team ITA HER GE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS WHO WE ARE Welcome
About OHOP Film Week Staff Screeners Jurors About Mini-Grant Program 2023 Mini-Grant Recipients
PROGRAM
Film Week Schedule Official Film Selections Speakers and Panelists Awards Partnerships and Sponsors
2 4 6 8 10 12 13
10 17 31 37 49
THIS IS OUR HERITAGE, THIS IS OUR PLANET For the 3rd year in a row, Our Heritage, Our Planet Film Week is building a space (both in-person and virtually) where creatives, filmmakers, climate justice advocates, and others working on environmental topics can come, showcase, and celebrate, the stories of Latino, Black, Indigenous and other people of color in connection to Our Heritage and Our Planet – the lands, nature, oceans or waterways, cultures and traditions we identify with. We are very intentional about centering BIPOC storytelling in this event because these voices are often left out, misunderstood, or deemed not as valuable on climate and environmental justice issues, even though these issues impact our communities most severely.
ABOUT OHOP FILM WEEK In October 2021, Hispanic Access Foundation debuted Our Heritage, Our Planet/Nuestra Herencia, Nuestro Planeta Film Week, to uplift the nexus between Latino, Black, Indigenous and other communities of color and environmental topics through the storytelling medium of film. Over the last two years, we’ve had over 1,600 films submitted, 80 films chosen to be showcased, 10 award-winning film selections, and nearly 1,000 registrants. The event also included performances and discussions with filmmakers, decision-makers, and community members on a variety of conservation topics. This year we’ve received over 500 film submissions and have whittled it down to about 35 films for this main event! We diligently work to create and curate a space for storytelling, dialog, learning, advocacy, and relationship-building. One that brings together diverse audiences to celebrate their work, while uplifting the common threads of our experiences. Additionally, we want this space to serve as a conduit that can provide additional opportunities for funding, employment, education, and exposure for aspiring filmmakers of color.
OUR HERITAGE, OUR PLANET PLANNING COMMITTEE
BRENDA GALLEGOS
SHANNA EDBERG
ARMANI GLADDEN
KARINA MEZA
EVELYN RAMIREZ
ARTURO ANGELES
CONSERVATION PROGRAM ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
PROGRAMMING & CURATION
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE
OUR HERITAGE, OUR PLANET PLANNING COMMITTEE
LUKE ARGLEBEN DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
JUAN ROSAS
CONSERVATION PROGRAM ASSOCIATE
MARGARET LAMPHIER MEIER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
DAVID ARMIJO
CHIEF OF PROGRAMS
VANESSA MUÑOZ
CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANAGER
SCREENING COMMITTEE ALEJANDRA ARAUJO Video Editor/ Producer
JOSE PABLO ORTIZ PARTIDA Union of Concerned Scientists
ANDREW GABALDON Independent Contractor
JUAN ROSAS Hispanic Access Foundation
ANDRIANNA DOWELL Archaeologist
MIGUEL JUANEZ
ANGEL COLON-SANTIAGO Ecologist
REYNA C RUANO Por la Creación Faith-Based Alliance
ANGELA CATALANO
RUBY GONZALEZ MANO Project Alumni
ARMANI GLADDEN OHOP Project Manager
SHANNA EDBERG Hispanic Access Foundation
BRENDA GALLEGOS OHOP Project Manager
SHLEY SUAREZ-BURGOS Videographer
CYNTHIA GUTIERREZ Black Millenials 4 Flint
SILVANA MOLIERI Hispanic Access Foundation
DAVID RIERA Olas y Acción Ocean Council
STEPHANIE PEREIRA Hispanic Access Foundation
DIANA MARTINEZ
VANESSA MUÑOZ Hispanic Access Foundation
FATIMA ROJAS NUÑEZ FELIPE VILLEGAS JR. Por la Creación Faith-Based Alliance
VICTORIA PEDROSA Hispanic Access Foundation VIRGINIA ANSALDI Olas y Acción Ocean Council
JURORS BEST ANIMATED
BEST DOCUMENTARY
ARMANI GLADDEN OHOP Creative Consultant
CLAUDIA TIBBS Monterey Bay Aquarium
ALEJANDRA ARAUJO Video Editor/ Producer
FRISLY SOBERANIS Director/ Video Artist
ALEJANDRA WARREN Executive Director at Plastic Free Future
JESS KIND Climate Scientist / Illustrator
ANGEL COLON-SANTIAGO Fish and Wildlife Biologist
LEON WANG Scientist / Artist
LEON WANG Scientist/ Artist
BEST EXPERIMENTAL
BEST SHORT
ALEJANDRA ARAUJO Video Editor/ Producer
ANGEL COLON-SANTIAGO Fish and Wildlife Biologist
ALEJANDRA WARREN Executive Director at Plastic Free Future
CLAUDIA TIBBS Monterey Bay Aquarium
CYNTHIA GUTIERREZ Black Millenials 4 Flint
CYNTHIA GUTIERREZ Black Millenials 4 Flint
JESS KIND Climate Scientist / Illustrator
FRISLY SOBERANIS Director/ Video Artist SHANNA EDBERG Hispanic Access Foundation
2023 EVENT SCHEDULE LANDS & NATURE DAY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 4:00 PM - WELCOME + INTRODUCTION TO OUR
FILM SCREENING DISCUSSION/PANEL
OCEAN AND WATERWAYS DAY WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 4:00 PM - WELCOME & SCHEDULE OF THE DAY
HERITAGE, OUR PLANET FILM WEEK 2023 4:10 PM - FILM PREMIERES BLOCK 1: 4:30 PM - FILM PREMIERES:
WATER
BALAM
GARBAGE ISLAND
EKBEH
THE ROUND LAKE
DULCE
CORAL REEF RESTORATION
WHOLISTIC CONVERSATIONS ON LIVER WELLNESS AMANDIYA, OVERCOMING INDIFFERENCE CAN SAVE
4:45 PM - AGUA CORRIENTE: WATERWAYS REPORT
THE WORLD!
RELEASE DISCUSSION
5:35 PM - INTRO TO THE INDIGENOUS SPEAKER SERIES
5:35PM - FILM PREMIERES BLOCK 2: THE WAY YOU SEA ME KADAL
5:55 PM - FILM PREMIERE: WANIYETU WOWAPI - WINTER COUNT
WADING FOR CHANGE MACHI (FISH) TINY
6:40 PM - POR LA CREACIÓN PUBLIC LANDS
PADDLE TRIBAL WATERS
PANEL DISCUSSION 6:40 PM - DISCUSSION: 7:30 PM - FEATURE FILM PREMIERE: COSMOVISIONS 8:20 PM - KEYNOTE SPEAKER - RICHARD MONTAÑEZ 8:35 PM - CLOSING REMARKS
INDIGENOUS ALLYSHIP CHAT: JILL SHERMAN AND DUANE SHERMAN 7:25 PM - FEATURE FILM PREMIERE: PLASTICSPHERE 8:30 PM - CLOSING REMARKS
ALL TIMES ARE IN EST; ALL PROGRAMMING WILL BE CARRIED OUT VIRTUALLY.
2023 EVENT SCHEDULE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DAY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12
FILM SCREENING DISCUSSION/PANEL
CLIMATE CRISIS DAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13
4:00PM - WELCOME & SCHEDULE OF THE DAY
4:00PM - WELCOME
4:10PM - FILM PREMIERES BLOCK 1:
4:15PM - FILM PREMIERES:
NEW BEGINNINGS IN THE CAN THE GOOSEBERRY GRANDMOTHER'S DAUGHTER TRAVESSIA LA CURANDERA CUMBIAMBERA 5:30PM - FEATURE FILM PREMIERE: POLINIZADORXS 7:30PM - DISCUSSION:
HOPE THE CLIMATE GENTRIFICATION CRISIS YOGA WARMING THE SPEECH OF TXAI SURUI REBIRTH DROPS OF DEW THE SOLO ECLIPSE 5:20PM - DISCUSSION: BUILDING STORIES TOGETHER: HOW WE GOT HERE AND
INDIGENOUS ALLYSHIP CHAT: BENNAE CALAC
WHERE WE’RE GOING
8:00PM - CLOSINGREMARKS + EXCLUSIVE TRAILER
6:30PM
PREVIEWS
2023 OHOP GRANTEE FILM PREMIERES: THE SHADE BLACK CRIATURITAS EL MEDIO AMBIENTE DESDE MIS OJOS YOLA LA MANTANZA TEASER 7:20PM - FEATURE FILM PREMIERE: SONS OF THE ICE 8:10PM - CLOSING CEREMONY + AWARDS
ALL TIMES ARE IN EST; ALL PROGRAMMING WILL BE CARRIED OUT VIRTUALLY.
OHOP FILM WEEK 2023 MINI-GRANT PROGRAM In Spring 2023, Hispanic Access Foundation awarded 6 mini-grants to BIPOC filmmakers from across the country and abroad to complete short film projects to be premiered during Our Heritage, Our Planet Film Week events this year. The program ran from May through mid-September and we are very excited to share these artists and their creations with you! The cohort’s films will premiere starting at 6:30 ET / 3:30 PT on Friday, October 13!
OHOP FILM WEEK 2023 MINI-GRANT RECIPIENTS “CRIATURITAS“
PAULA LOVO
Project-In-Progress GrantWinner Paula Lovo (she/her/ella) is a Latine artist, educator, and film programmer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her work taps into intergenerational relationships, spaces that create community and those who built it, and memory tied to migrations. Lovo understands that accessibility is an extremely important aspect in creating art spaces. With this in mind, she co-programs film screenings and workshops at Cactus Club in Milwaukee. Her published and screened projects include Colorin Colorado, Cartoneria, and To Proclaim Our Presence Known.
Instagram: @paulalovo_ “THE MATANZA“
GREGG FLORES Instagram: @Wheretheriverruns
Project-in-Progress Grant Winner Gregg Flores was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he was raised to embrace fishing and camping throughout the forests, lakes, and rivers of his home state.During his college career at University of New Mexico, Gregg began pursuing film and photography as a hobby which eventually evolved into a small business by name of Where The River Runs. He has since produced stories for REI, the Hispanic Access Foundation, Trout Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, HECHO, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, the Conservation Lands Foundation, Latino Outdoors, the Wilderness Society, and many more. His photos have been published in various magazines and books including American Fly Fishing and Todd Moen’s Catch Magazine. His mini documentaries have helped shaped land and water policies throughout New Mexico and Colorado.
YOLA
ALEJANDRA QUIROZ Instagram: @ourluproductions
KRISTINA ANDREZ Instagram: @kristinaandrez
New Short Film Grant Winner Our Lú Productions - Alejandra Quiroz and Kristina Andrez Alejandra Quiroz (She/Her/Ella) is a talented Writer, Producer, Director, and Podcast Host, originally from Honduras and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her passion lies in exploring the Central American experiences, both in the Diaspora and in their homeland, while shining a light on the challenges of migration. She earned her B.A in Cinema and Television Arts and Central American Studies from Cal State Northridge. Throughout her career, Alejandra has been committed to promoting the inclusion, representation, and inclusivity of Central Americans. In 2020, Alejandra launched her podcast, Central American Voices, where she explores Central American experiences around the world. In 2022, Alejandra took her career to the next level by opening her own production company, Our Lú Productions LLC. The company focuses on creating films, TV shows, and commercials that showcase the diversity within Media. Kristina Andrez is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker with a deep passion for producing, directing, and screenwriting. Growing up in a Latino household, she was immersed in the rich rhythms and sounds of salsa, bachata, merengue, and reggaeton, which fueled her love for music and kept her connected to her roots. Combining her love for film and music, Kristina has been dedicated to helping up-and-coming artists by shooting lowbudget music videos, and has also written and directed her own short films. Through her work, Kristina has had the opportunity to closely collaborate with industry producers, directors, and actors in various projects, including Crypt TV, De Viaje con Los Derbez, and big-budget music videos, honing her skills and keen eye for detail. Her ongoing projects are focused on telling stories that highlight different cultures, struggles, and misconceptions in society.
LA VOZ EN NUESTRA MANOS
FABIOLA TORRES
New Short Film Grant Winner Fabiola was born into a large family in a rural area of Puerto Rico, with some members living on the coast and others in the mountains. Her upbringing fostered a deep apprecaition for an island’s natural diversity and shaped who she is today; an enthusiastic nature advocate and a pursuer of knowledge of the natural world through science. Her highest degree is a Master of Science in Biology at the University of California, and she has had the chance to work for numerous private organizations and public sector entities including the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of Agriculture, US Bureau of Land Management and the National Audubon Society. With the knowledge she has acquired throughout the years, Fabiola founded Conservation Opportunity, a nonprofit incorporated in Puerto Rico that connects people with opportunities focused on wildlife conservation.
Shley Suarez Burgos (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Miami. At a young age, Shley discovered her passion for conservation-focused digital storytelling. Combining her background of professional salmon fishing, filmmaking and yoga instruction, she's discovered outlets for creative eco-storytelling by creating authentic conversations and events for diverse communities. She is currently a member of the Oceans Advisory Council/OYA, MANO Alumni Board, NASA IDEA Panel, and Treesources.
SHLEY SUAREZ-BURGOS
THE SHADE BLACK
CHAVALA YADUMA Instagram: @valaf_films
New Short Film Grant Winner Chavala Yaduma is a writer and a film director with over 4 years of experience in the industry. Born and raised in Nigeria, Chavala was exposed to the world of cinema from a young age and developed a passion for storytelling and visual arts. Chavala studied Law for five years and after graduation, she worked on building her own production company where she creates content for brands and companies. She quickly gained a reputation for her ability to bring out the best in actors and her skill in crafting emotionally resonant stories that captivated audiences.Over the course of her career, Chavala has directed a wide range of films, from indie short dramas to TV commercials. In her free time, Chavala enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.
KAKOLS
New Short Film Grant Winner My name is Lofanitani and I am a woman who is Pacific Islander (Tongan) and Black, and my tribes are Modoc, Klamath, and Tahlequah. These are aspects of my identity in which I navigate and see the world. I bring my communities and our diverse perspectives to spaces where they aren’t well represented and inspire to elevate Indigenous peoples on a global scale.
LOFANITANI AISEA
OUR HERITAGE, OUR PLANET OFFICIAL FILM SELECTION 2023
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH
LANDS & NATURE DAY BALAM Animated Short, Mexico, 2023, 10min Directed by Guillermo Casarin NOMINEE, BEST ANIMATED FILM Itzel, a young girl of Mayan descent, goes on a camping trip with her father deep in the jungle. As they stargaze together, Itzel's curiosity leads her to wander off and explore the surrounding area. While wandering, she discovers a Jaguar in captivity, a magical Jaguar, called Balam.
EKBEH Documentary Short, USA, 2023, 9min Directed by Mariah Eli Hernandez-Fitch While learning to make gumbo, personal stories of the creator's grandparents are shared as a way to honor and preserve their Indigenous history and life through oral storytelling.
DULCE Animated Short, USA, 2023, 3min30sec Directed by Aleyda Ortiz NOMINEE, BEST ANIMATED FILM Dulce is a short 3D animated film that explores the loving relationship between mother and daughter while balancing the heavy concept of death.
WHOLISTIC CONVERSATIONS ON LIVER WELLNESS: AN INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE Documentary Short, Canada, 2023, 23min Directed by Kate P.R Dunn Co-created and produced with First Nations and Metis community members in Alberta, Canada - This DocuStory film shares conversations on wellness featuring unique stories from various personal and professional experiences and seasons of life. These eye-opening conversations share the pact the Indigenous community is making on awareness for the importance of liver health rooted in traditional culture and ways of life. These conversations put emphasis on looking forward to teaching future generations the importance of the liver, and how imperative it is to overall health and well-being.
AMANDIYA, OVERCOMING INDIFFERENCE CAN SAVE THE WORLD Animated Short, Plurinational State of Bolivia, 2022, 8min Directed by FAO Bolivia Amandiya is a teenage girl of Guarani origin from Bolivia, living in the city with her family. One day, while rummaging through her belongings, she finds a letter from her grandmother that reminds her of their shared joy in harvesting and gathering food from the biodiversity of their Chaco region, a plot of land where they cultivated their own sustenance. Upon reading the letter, Amandiya recalls the promise she made to her grandmother: to never give up on her dreams. Filled with courage, she decides to embark on a journey across the vast Bolivian landscape, carrying with her the seeds inherited from her grandmother, in an effort to restore the diversity of life.
WANIYETU WOWAPI - WINTER COUNT Documentary Short, USA, 2022, 35min Directed by Richard Steinberger NOMINEE, BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM Welcome to the Cheyenne River Youth Project. Come with us into the heart of our circle, where you’ll meet our kids, parents, elders, artists, and partners. You’ll discover why art is so central to Lakota culture. You’ll experience how we are reclaiming spaces in our community. You’ll learn how we are revitalizing our language, ceremonies, and life ways through our own contemporary version of the Winter Count. And, you’ll share our joy as we bring to life our stories, truths, and messages for our people.
COSMOVISIONS Feature Documentary , Brazil, 2021, 52min Directed by Marcilia Cavalcante Barros NOMINEE, BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM Film summary: In Southern Bahia, seven indigenous women invite to reflection, sharing their mythology, ancestry and paths to living well.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH
WATER Experimental/ Animated Short, Mexico, 2022, 25min Directed by Raúl Alejandro `Robin´ Morales Reyes NOMINEE, BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM Water, the perfect fabric that crosses everything and everyone, which is present in every landscape, in every being, in every thing and in everything we love and see. The water dances through this world and flows at its perfect rhythm, until the hand of man interrupts that journey... can we be part of that journey in a natural way? Are we on time?
GARBAGE ISLAND Animated Short, Brazil, 2023, 8min Directed by Eisa Santos Guimarães
Janaína and her father Alfredo are facing a traffic jam due to a flood. The girl throws a plastic bottle out of the car window. From that moment on, we follow the entire trajectory of the bottle, going through the sewer system, freshwater basins, riverside communities, all the way to the ocean, where the bottle settles on one of the large plastic islands present in the ocean.
THE ROUND LAKE Short Narrative, Pakistan, 2022, 12min Directed by Zayan Agha NOMINEE, BEST SHORT FILM The Round Lake is about two sisters, Hafsa and Noreen, who live in a community without running tap water and so they fight desperately trying to locate enough water to stay alive.
MACHI (FISH) Experimental Short, Nepal, 2021, 4min Directed by Eoghan McDonaugh NOMINEE, BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM The film Machi, which means ‘Fish’, follows a small group from a Tharu household carrying out their traditional practices two days before the start of the Maghi festival. Unfortunately, their fishing expedition yields a very poor catch and that is reflected in the poem which provides a touching yet beautiful commentary to the film. The poem was written and recited by Sangita Guruwa, one of the group going fishing, and describes how the once plentiful and varied fish stocks have now become very scarce - this is attributed partly the sharp rise in new damaging practices like electrofishing and blasting.
CORAL REEF RESTORATION Student Short Doc, USA, 2023, 4min30sec Directed by Asa Miller NOMINEE, NEXT GENERATION AWARD “In my short life of 16 years, climate change, declining water quality, overfishing, pollution, and unsustainable coastal development have decimated up to 15% of the world’s coral reefs. In my short film “Coral Reef Restoration,” I demonstrate four simple steps to do something about it.”
THE WAY YOU SEA ME Short Narrative, Brazil, 2023, 18min Directed by Gabriel Melin NOMINEE, BEST SHORT FILM The film tells the story of a brief encounter between two kids who have very different ways of seeing the world around them. And the sea, who embraces this moment. The boy, afraid of what the sea might hold for him, and the girl, used to seeing poetry everywhere around her, learn together that in order to enjoy life, all you need to do is give into your senses.
KADAL Short Narrative, India, 2022, 4min Directed by Muhammed Ashiqu A girl standing alone on the beach recalls her memories of her ex-girl friend and her time there. Although in soltitude she finally finds peace with herself on the beach.
WADING FOR CHANGE Documentary Short, USA, 2022, 12min Directed by Sofia Jaramillo NOMINEE, BEST SHORT FILM For Latino conservationist and angler Jr Rodriguez to become “like the pictures he saw in magazines,” he had to leave behind what he loved the most. This is his story of pursuing his dream to become a fly fisherman and his efforts to make the sport more inclusive. By juxtaposing Jr’s origins in Houston, Texas, and his current home in the world-renowned fly fishing hub of Jackson Hole, we share his perspective of what it is like to participate in outdoor sports in Western mountain towns as a person of color.
TINY Animated Short, Canada, 2022, 16min Directed by Ritchie Hemphill, Ryan Hache NOMINEE, BEST ANIMATED FILM Tiny is a contemplative stop motion film which tells the story of ‘Nakwaxda’xw Elder Colleen Hemphill’s childhood. The film portrays modern day Colleen as she reflects on her past, and re-enacts the stories she tells of her youth, as a young girl growing up on a float-house in the wild and unpredictable Pacific Northwest and its waters. As she retells her story, Colleen notices how different her way of life was when she was young, and how much more harmonious her community was with nature.
PADDLE TRIBAL WATERS Documentary Short, USA, 2021, 9min Directed by Paul Robert Wolf Wilson, Rush Sturges When the largest dam removal project in history begins, a group of indigenous youth learn to whitewater kayak in hopes of becoming the first people to paddle the restored river from source to sea.
PLASTICSPHERE Feature Documentary, Guatemala, 2023, 1hr13min Directed by Sergio Izquierdo The documentary follows a group of Latin American environmentalists and scientists on their risky expedition through the second largest coral reef in the world. Their goal is to investigate and document the alarming contamination of plastic and microplastics that is severely affecting marine life, the tourism and fishing resources of the region as well as human health. As they venture into the depths of the ocean, they discover the magnitude of the problem and how it has transcended into the social and political spheres. The documentary showcases the struggle to raise awareness about this environmental issue and how research and activism can make a difference in conserving the environment.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12TH
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DAY NEW BEGINNINGS Animated Short, Canada, 2023, 2min Directed by Evine Abbasy The story of a war burdened land being restored by the help of three lovely little spirits.
IN THE CAN Experimental Short, Brazil, 2022, 7min Directed by Ana Clara Gomes NOMINEE, BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM A block with cans and drums made from recycled materials stars in a sound narrative about music recycling us. The musical block is formed from the workshop “Rhythm garbage, recycled drumming”, carried out by the Vida Seca group in its project of formation of scrap percussion blocks. The group recycles objects, processes materials considered as garbage and transforms them into possibilities for everyone to make music.
THE GOOSEBERRY GRANDMOTHER’S DAUGHTER Documentary Short, South Africa, 2021, 24min Directed by Julie Laurenz In October 2020, Malungelo ’s world came crashing down. Her mother, Mam’Fikile, a tough but big-hearted woman with a bellowing singing voice was murdered. Malungelo didn’t always get on with her mother, but when her mother was brutally gunned down, Malungelo became determined to find out why she was killed. To her surprise she discovers a hero who stood up against a corporate giant.
TRAVESSIA Experimental Short, Brazil, 2023, 15min Directed by Alexander de Freitas Maciel "Travessia" is a contemporary dance performance that revives the Black diaspora, from the horrors of the watercovered dungeon - the slave ship - drifting through to the present day. It has been 134 years of freedom, but Black people are still chained to many shackles in Brazil. The Black, poor, and favela-dwelling people are the concrete result of the Brazilian structural racism, fostered day after day for years of injustice and non-reparations. Permeated by poetry and video art, the performance presents phases of the African population's trajectory since their arrival in Brazil, in the water-covered dungeons of slave ships, to the contemporaneity of Afro-descendants and the false idea of freedom that runs through their existences.
LA CURANDERA CUMBIEAMBERA Animated Short, USA, 2022, 22min Directed by Ivan Flores NOMINEE, BEST ANIMATED FILM "La Curandera Cumbiambera" is a science fiction animation similar to 'Heavy Metal' or 'Akira' that tells the story of a dying Earth ruled by a mutant dictator and his quest to conquer new worlds. A small group of animals band together to fight back and summon the ancient healers for help in battle.
POLINIZADORXS Feature Documentary, Mexico, 2022, 1h 14min Directed by Lilia Torres NOMINEE, BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM A documentary that from the senti-thinking perspective, collects the words of some inhabitants of the Yucatan Peninsula, collected at different points of the seven sections of the so-called Mayan Train. In dialogue with nature, the inhabitants express their relationship with the territory, the threats it currently faces and their perspective on what would happen if the "Iron Serpent" arrived. The testimonies, enunciated in symbolic spaces for those who defend life, take us into an intimate universe of concerns about the devastation that the current development model entails and its amplification if the megaproject were implemented. Messages ready to spread, by these resistance pollinators.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13TH
CLIMATE CRISIS DAY HOPE Animated Short, Philippines, 2023, 4min Directed by Jody Wu With the impact of extreme weather, how should people in different situations face the current dilemma? What exactly is hope?
THE CLIMATE GENTRIFICATION CRISIS Public Service Announcement, USA, 2022, 1min Directed by Paola Perez As a Miami resident, Climate Gentrification is not only very personal but very present in my life. Creating a documentary allows me to obtain some form of control for a topic that can be so complex and allows the necessary discourse to ensue.
YOGA WARMING Animated Short, Israel, 2023, 5min Directed by Naama Yiron Gaia is living in a reality where the end of the world is close. During her yoga practice, she is struggling to control the impossible. The existence of anxieties are merging with each pose in an absurd way. The heat and the sweat are rising with the thoughts of the world ending. How is it possible to balance the will of changing the world and the realization that not all is possible?
THE SPEECH OF TXAI SURUI Experimental Short, Brazil, 2022, 4min Directed by Students of the Multimedia Project of Escola Parque (15-16 years old) NOMINEE, BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM The memorable and historic speech by Txai Suruí at the opening of COP-26: UN Conference on Climate Change, in Glasgow, Scotland (2021). Txai Suruí is a Brazilian indigenous activist leader, of the Paiter-Suruí ethnic group. She was the only indigenous person in Latin America and the only Brazilian to speak at COP-26. Her speech was made in front of more than 100 heads of state and echoed across the planet. The film was made in stop motion and 2d animation by the high school students of Escola Parque.
REBIRTH Animated Short, Tunisia, 2022, 4min30sec Directed by Ahmed Yahia After a series of natural disaster hadwiped out almost the entire life on earth, a small gardening robot sets out to rescue the planet from complete death.
DROPS OF DEW Short Narrative, Italy, 2023, 15min Directed by Gianpaolo Gelati and Alessandro Melchionda In a hot summer, where water is rationed, Emma is given a lemon plant. A small challenge, her being able to quench her plant's thirst, which will inspire her when she grows up, to devise a natural and innovative system of water reuse.
THE SOLO ECLIPSE Short Narrative, United Kingdom, 2022, 9min Directed by Christine Ubochi NOMINEE, BEST SHORT FILM A 10 minute mockumentary about the Moon going on a Blind Date after she breaks up with Earth.
SONS OF THE ICE Feature Documentary, Colombia, 2022, 45min Directed by Oscar Dario Jimenez Escruceria Four men and a woman had been dedicated their lives to admire and protect Colombia´s glaciers, particularly these glaciers are unique in the world. However, lay down their lives for care of mountain it won't be enough to stop form extinction.
OUR HERITAGE, OUR PLANET 2023 PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND SPEAKERS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
RICHARD MONTAÑEZ TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 AT 8:10 EST Richard Montañez led Multicultural Sales & Marketing as Vice President across Pepsi North American divisions, and after 42 years with the company he is now retired. Throughout his career Montañez has held various senior roles through Pepsi and Frito Lay divisions.
INDIGENOUS ALLYSHIP CHATS
BENNAE CALAC ONOO PO STRATEGIES
JILL SHERMAN NATIVE AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COALITION
DUANE SHERMAN HOOPA VALLEY TRIBE
Throughout this week, we'll set the stage with chats between Indigenous and Latino leaders on how our respective communities can be allies to each other. We will discuss the work these leaders are doing, how their work overlaps with Latinidad (Latino identity), and how our communities can be allies to each other.
POR LA CREACIÓN MONUMENTS PANEL DISCUSSION
PRESENTED BY POR LA CREACIÓN FAITH-BASED ALLIANCE
MOSES BORJAS SENIOR PASTOR OF LIVING COVENANT CHURCH
DRA. LUZ VERA PASTOR OF IGLESIA CRISTIANA ALIANZA E IGLESIA PODER DE DIOS
MIKE GOMEZ PASTOR OF CALVARY CHAPEL AG
OSCAR VELASQUEZ PASTOR OF FUENTE DE VIDA ETERNA
Join us with the Por La Creación faith leaders, alongside the Colorado State Director of the Nature Conservancy, who are working diligently to protect God’s creation. They will dive into their experiences and lessons learned, in their community effort to protect public land for the Latino community.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, AT 6:40 EST
“AGUA CORRIENTE” WATERWAYS REPORT RELEASE
VANESSA MUÑOZ CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANAGER
PAOLA BONILLA AUTHOR, LATINO CLIMATE COUNCIL
Join the authors of this new Hispanic Access report for a discussion on the significance of our waterways, including the Mississippi and Colorado Rivers. In the face of mounting challenges, our collective responsibility is to preserve rivers as lifelines for society. This journey is not just about conserving water but about preserving traditions, livelihoods, and the essence of nature that sustains us.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, AT 5:45 EST
BUILDING STORIES TOGETHER: HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING PANEL DISCUSSION
MAC CORDONA CWAVE LABS
CYNTHIA GUTIERREZ BLACK MILLENIALS 4 FLINT
JOSE PABLO ORTIZ PARTIDA UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
NATALIE DE LA TORRE SALAS FLORIDA PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY NETWORK
DIANDRA MARIZET INTERSECTIONAL ENVIRONMENTALIST
Join us for an engaging and inspiring discussion as we delve into the incredible journey of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Latino Climate Council Storytelling Committee- a dedicated group of story enthusiasts from diverse professional backgrounds, united by a shared love for storytelling and community. Through teamwork and compassionate leadership, they are bringing their current film project to life, and they’re eager to share their experiences with you.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, AT 5:20 EST
AWARDS
CATEGORIES AND NOMINATIONS BEST ANIMATED FILM
BEST DOCUMENTARY
DULCE (WINNER)
FILM
Filmmaker: Aleyda Ortiz
TINY Filmmaker: Ritchie Hemphill, Ryan Hache
LA CURANDERA CUMBIAMBERA Filmmaker: Ivan Flores
BALAM Filmmaker:Guillermo Casarin
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM WATER (WINNER) Filmmaker: Raúl Alejandro `Robin´ Morales Reyes
THE SPEECH OF TXAI SURUI Filmmaker: Students of the Multimedia Project of Escola Parque (15-16 years old)
MACHI (FISH) Filmmaker: Eoghan McDonaugh
IN THE CAN Filmmaker: Ana Clara Gomes
COSMOVISIONS (WINNER) Filmmaker: Marcilia Cavalcante Barros
WADING FOR CHANGE Filmmaker: Sofia Jaramillo
POLINIZADORXS Filmmaker: Lilia Torres
WANIYETU WOWAPI - WINTER COUNT Filmmaker: Richard Steinberger
BEST SHORT FILM THE WAY YOU SEA ME (WINNER) Filmmaker: Gabriel Melin
THE SOLO ECLIPSE Filmmaker: Christine Ubochi
THE ROUND LAKE Filmmaker: Zayan Agha
2023 SPONSORS & PARTNERS
ABOUT US Hispanic Access Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that connects Latinos with partners and opportunities improving lives and creating an equitable society. Our vision is that all Hispanics throughout the U.S. enjoy good physical health, a healthy natural environment, a quality education, economic success and civic engagement in their communities with the sum improving the future of America. For more information, visit www.hispanicaccess.org.
1030 15TH ST NW, SUITE B/1 #150 WASHINGTON, DC 20005 (202) 640-4342 WWW.HISPANICACCESS.ORG