Vancouver, unceded Coast Salish Territories
"Defensora" Film Premiere
7:00pm
- 9:00pm
Dimanche Octobre 27 2013
Defensora is a deeply moving testimony to incredible courage in the face
of wanton brutality and a shining tribute to the human search for
justice.” (Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians)
Defensora documents the historic and on-going land and community defense
struggles of Mayan Q’eqchi communities in eastern Guatemala, and their
struggle for justice and remedy in Canadian courts against the nickel
mining company Hudbay Minerals.
Winner of the International John Basham Award, at the 2013 Columbia Gorge
International Film Festival, Defensora follows the story of sisters Maria
and Angelica Choc, who lead a Mayan Q’eqchi resistance in Guatemala to
reclaim ancestral lands and seek justice in Canada for the murder of
Angelica’s husband, the shooting-paralyzing of German Choc Chub and the
gang rapes of 11 Mayan women.
Set along the shores of Lake Izabal, where tensions run high against a
backdrop and history of violence, intimidation and forced evictions, the
stakes are high for the Mayan Q’eqchi people who risk their lives to
protect their lands, speak the truth and seek justice in Canadian courts,
and for Hudbay Minerals that continues to deny their allegations.
“Defensora is a timely documentary that provides candid insights into the
brave struggles of Angélica, German and other Maya Q’eqchi’ women and men
in El Estor, Guatemala who, faced with the grave harm that Canadian mining
operations have brought about, are on the frontline of the battle for
justice in Canadian courts.” (Jen Moore, MiningWatch Canada)
VANCOUVER SCREENING:
October 27 in Vancouver, at Fletcher Challenge Canada Theatre, Rm. 1900
SFU Harbour Centre at 7 pm.
Sponsored by: Mining Justice Alliance, Media Democracy – CounterCulture,
and SFU Institute for the Humanities. Features a Q&A session with
Producer/Director Rachel Schmidt and Grahame Russell, Rights Action.
Watch Defensora's preview trailer:
www.defensorathefilm.com
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