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Archive: Film Series

Tulane University – New Orleans, LA
April 2009

The Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University held the Second Biennial Latin American Environmental Media Festival in New Orleans April 2009. This weekend-long festival brought to audiences films, videos, and innovative works in digital media whose subjects call critical attention to major environmental challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean. The festival was held on the Tulane University campus and at venues in the city. It screened a curated, non-competitive series of innovative works and new productions submitted as part of a juried competition. A distinguished jury awarded prizes in four categories at the opening of the festival in late March.

2009 Film Winners

  • Best Feature Length Documentary – Grissi Siknis: La enfermedad mágica de la selva/ Grissi Siknis: The magic illness of the jungle
    • Enrique Ruiz-Skipey, Mexico/Nicaragua/Spain, 2008

The jungle madness known as Grissi Siknis is a contagious, naturally bound syndrome that occurs among the Miskito of Eastern Central America and affects mainly young women. Grissi Siknis is typically characterized by long periods of anxiety, nausea, dizziness, irrational anger and fear interlaced with short periods of rapid frenzy in which the victims lose consciousness, and believe that devils beat them, have sexual relations with them, and run away. Traditional Miskito tradition holds that Grissi Siknis is caused by possession by evil spirits or inflicted by a malevolent evil sorcerer. While Western medicine typically has no effect on those affected with the disease, the remedies of Miskito herbalists or healers are often successful in curing the madness.

  • Best of the Fest – Justicia Now!
    • Martin O’Brien and Robbie Proctor, Ecuador, 2007

Justicia Now! is a documentary about Chevron Texaco’s toxic legacy in the Northern Ecuadorian region of the Amazon rainforest – and a courageous group of people called Los Afectados (The Affected Ones) who are seeking justice for the ensuing cancer, sickness and death in the largest environmental class action lawsuit in history. Get more information here.

For more information, please contact Denise Wolterning at dwolteri@tulane.edu or 504-862-3143.

This event is sponsored by the Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University.

Spring 2004

LARC did not offer any film series for that semester, but instead offered several workshops.

Fall 2003

Environmental Justice and Human Rights in Latin America September 20, 2003, 9:00AM – 12:00PM

This film series presented documentaries from the Lending Library that focused on issues of environmental justice and as they relate to human rights. It also looked at ways that globalization has effected the environment in Latin America and what repercussions it has had on indigenous groups.

Dia de los Muertos Saturday, October 11, 2003, 9:00AM – 12:00PM

This professional development opportunity presented slides and films that showed Dia de los Muertos events throughout Mexico and feature materials available through the Lending Library. Participants of this workshop also were treated to an art lesson that taught teachers how to build Dia de los Muertos artifacts in their classroom.

Latin American Studies Film Series October 16, 7:00 PM and November 20, 7:00 PM
LARC sponsored two films as part of the Latin American Studies Film Series.

Hidden in Plain Sight Directed by John Smihula. (U.S., 2002) Afetr the showing, there was a Q & A with the director himself. The Harder They Come. (Jamaica, 1973)

Spring 2003

State Sponsored Violence and Civil Unrest in Latin American History-
The Shining Path Guerrilla Movement of Peru
Saturday, March 22, 2003, 9am-12pm

Latin America is recognized for its geographic diversity and cultural vibrancy. The region is also characterized by its repressive political regimes, human rights abuses, bloody civil wars, and violent revolutions. How can teachers address such histories without perpetuating stereotypes and simplifying the issues? How should educators approach these violent histories in the classroom? This series will screen the Peruvian film, La Boca del Lobo, and utilize Peru’s Shining Path as a case study for discussing these sorts of issues. Tulane PhD candidate Cynthia Garza will give a pre-screening introduction on the Shining Path and facilitate a discussion after the film. Curriculum materials will be provided.

Films:
La Boca del Lobo
Zapatistas: The Next Phase
Remarkable Images

Art, Identity, and the Mexican Revolution
Saturday, April 19, 2003, 9am-12pm
Art and the Mexican Revolution are an inseparable pair whose combination changed the face of the country. This workshop will present materials on the Revolution and the art that developed as a result. By studying artists like Diego Rivera, José David Alfaro Siqueiros, José Guadalupe Posada, and others, students will gain an understanding of how the art of a nation embodies the spirit of its people and can often create a momentum that changes the entire political structure. Films and slides from the Lending Library will be previewed. Dr. Robert Irwin will lead an opening discussion on art and identity. Curriculum materials will also be available.

Films:
Mexican Murals: A Revolution on the Walls
Diego Rivera: Art and Revolution
Jose Guadeloupe Posada
Siquieros

LARC Film Series Presents Film Maker Greg Berger
Friday, April 4, 2003, 7pm

Freeman Auditorium, Tulane University
This film presentation is free and open to the public.
Greg Berger will present his two latest films Atenco: Machete Rebellion and ¡Tierra sí, aviones No! Berger and fellow crew members are on a national speaking tour to raise awareness of the plight of Atenco’s farmers, who stand to lose 95% of their farmland if a new airport is built. Claiming to be the first non-violent struggle of the 21st century, the Machete Rebellion has so far stopped the governments plans to expropriate the land from the farmers of Atenco.

Fall 2002

LARC did not offer a film series this semester. However, we did make available the LAS Film Series Schedule to all educators interested in learning about new films in the LARC Lending Library.

Spring 2002

Mesoamerican Folkstory and Myth Tuesday, March 5, 4:00pm-7:30pm and Saturday, March 9, 9:00am-12:30pm

The Popol Vuh: The Creation Myth of the Maya. Directed by University of California Extension Center for Media and Independent Learning (1986). 60 min. * The Five Suns: A Sacred History of Mexico. Directed by University of California Extension Center for Media and Independent Learning (1986). 60 min.

Chac: The Rain God. Directed by Rolando Klein (1970/2001). 95 min.

Life on the Street Tuesday, April 9, 4:00pm-7:00pm and
Saturday, April 13, 9:00am-12:00pm

Los ninos abandonados: Colombia. Directed by Danny Lyons (1975). 63 min. * Wilbert: Street Kid in Nicaragua. Directed and Produced by Bent Erik Kroyer (1995). 16 min. * Slave Ship: Favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Produced by Latin American Video Archives (1994). 28 min. * Venezuela: Children of the Street. Produced by Films for the Humanities and Sciences (1990). 26 min. * Guest speakers on current conditions in Brazilian favelas and in the streets of Nicaragua

Caribbean Roots: Indigenous Survivors Tuesday, May 7, 4:00pm-7:00pm and Saturday, May 11, 9:00am-12:00pm

Portrait of the Caribbean Part E: Worlds Apart. Produced by Ambrose Video (1992). 60 min. * Garifuna Journey. Leland Berger Productions (1999). 47 min. * Caribbean Eye: Indigenous Survivors. Banyan Limited (1992). 30 min. * Quest of the Carib Canoe. Think Tank/BBC Television. (2000). 50 min.

Summer 2001

This series explored the reality of religion, music, art and war. It began to understand the complexity of women and children, the African and the indigenous. Please contact us with feedback on these and other films.

Schedule

Caribbean Music and Dance Monday, June 18, 1:00-4:00pm

Routes of Rhythm: From Spain and Africa. The Cinema Guild (1997).

Every Day Art. LAVA (1994).

Chutney in Yuh Soca. Filmmakers Library (1995).

 Rhythms of Haiti. Organization of American States (ca. 1980).

More resources on Caribbean Music and Dance

Women in Latin America Thursday, June 21, 1:00-4:00pm

Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo. Produced by Susana Munoz & Lourdes Portillo (ca. 1985).

Home is Struggle. Women Make Movies (1991).

Women of Latin America: Cuba and Guatemala. Directed by Carmen Sarmiento Garcia (1995).

In Women’s Hands: The Changing Roles of Women. Annenburg CPB Collection (1993).

More resources on Women in Latin America

The Reality of War Monday, June 25, 1:00-4:00pm

Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins. Richter Productions (1997).

If the Mango Tree Could Speak: Children and War in Latin America. New Day Films (1993).

Lines of Blood. Directed by Brian Moser and Julia Ware (1991). * Women of Latin America: Guatemala. Directed by Carmen Sarmiento Garcia (1995).

More resources on War in Latin America

Tradition and Revolution Through Art Thursday, June 28, 1:00-4:00pm

Popol Vuh: The Creation Myth of the Maya. University of California Extension (1986).

Mexican Murals: A Revolution on the Walls. Ohio University (1977).

The Art of Haiti. Facets Video (1983).

Daughters of Ixchel: Maya Thread of Change. University of California Extension (1993).

More resources on Art in Latin America

Children Without a Childhood Monday, July 9, 1:00-4:00pm

Zoned for Slavery: The Child Behind the Label. Crowing Rooster Arts (1996).

Mexico: Back Door to the Promised Land. Films for the Humanities and Sciences (2000).

Sweating for a T-Shirt. Global Exchange (2000).

More resources on Children in Latin America

The African Diaspora Thursday, July 12, 1:00-4:00pm

Axe. LAVA (1988).

Garifuna Journey. Leland Berger Productions (1999).

Palenque Un Canto. Casimba Films (1992).

Black Atlantic: On the Orixas Route. Filmmakers Library (1999). * More resources on Afro-Latin America

Indigenous Latin America Monday, July 16, 1:00-4:00pm

Amazon Journal. Directed by Geoffrey O’Connor (1996).

Women of Latin America: Ecuador. Directed by Carmen Sarmiento Garcia (1995).

Rigoberta Menchu: Broken Silence. Films for the Humanities (1993).

More resources on Indigenous Latin America

The Diversity of Faith Thursday, July 19, 1:00-4:00pm

Televangelism in Brazil. Films for the Humanities and Sciences (1999).

Havana Nagila: The Jews in Cuba. Schnitzki & Stone Video (1995).

In Search of History: Voodoo Secrets. A&E Television Networks (1996).

More resources on Religion in Latin America

Fall 2001

This series presented voices from children, leaders of social movements, victims of torture, and players in Latin America’s increasingly globalized and always political economy. Please contact us with feedback on these and other films.

Schedule

Children Speak Saturday, September 29, 9:00am-12:00pm and Tuesday, October 2, 4:00-7:00pm

Medellin Notebooks. Directed by Catalina Villar (1998).

Children Without a Childhood: Mexico, Back Door to the Promised Land. Films for the Humanities and Sciences (2000).

If the Mango Tree Could Speak: A Documentary About Children and War in Central America. Directed by Patricia Goudvis (1993).

More resources on Children in Latin America.

Torture, Rights and Revolution Tuesday, October 23, 4:00-7:00pm and Saturday, October 27, 9:00am-12:00pm

*Please be advised, these films portray real life violence that may not be suitable for all audiences.

Brazil: Report on Torture. Directed by Saul Landau and Haskell Wexler (1971).

Human Rights in Haiti. Produced by Isabelle Abric for United Nations/OAS (2000).

Speaking Out: Displaced Colombians Silent No More. U.S. Committee for Refugees (2000).

Remarkable Images: The Ecuadorean Indigenous-Military Uprising. Directed by Brian Selmeski (2000).

More resources on Violence and Social Movements in Latin America.

Changing Markets, International Connections Saturday, November 10, 9:00am-12:00pm and Tuesday, November 13, 4:00-7:00pm

Rainforests: Proving Their Worth. Produced by Interlock Media Associates (1990).

La Esquina Caliente: The Hot Corner: US-Cuba Baseball. Directed by William O’Neill and Michael Skolnik (2000).

Daughters of Ixchel: Maya Thread of Change. University of California Extension Center for Media and Independent Learning (1993).

Street Vendors: The Informal Majority. Films for the Humanities and Sciences (1996).

More resources on Markets in Latin America.