This is Chiapas
1997, 42 min.
Directed by Elio Gelmini
Production: A Few Step Productions & Segnale Digitale
Editing: Carlo Vitali, Elio Gelmini

Sinopsys
On January 1, 1994, Chiapas Mexico, a group of indigenous people known as EZLN (The Zapatista Liberation Army), declare war against the Mexican government.

An interview with two Mexican poets highlights the struggle of the indigenous peoples who have been oppressed since the Spanish Conquest. The images send a reminder to western culture of the concept of people living without hope and yet with the strength to resist, their struggle echoing throughout the world, attempting to make a new life.

This is a message for peace, an invitation to solidarity and to a new awareness of the problems of racial discrimination, social exploitation, and of the continuous violation of human rights in countries such as Mexico.

Although independently conceived, This is Chiapas is demonstrably a logical extension to, and a convincing statement following closely, the messages discovered and announced in the compelling Academy Award winning 1983 documentary featuring Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu, When The Mountains Tremble.

Screenings:
• Sixieme Festival De Cinema Et Video des Peuples AutochtonesDesAmerique
August 6-13, 1999 Quetzaltenango- Guatemala
• First Peoples’ Festival June 13, 1999 Montreal-Canada
• Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival Victoria Jan-Feb. 1999 B.C.-Canada
• Centro Rosa Luxembourg February 13, 1998 Rome-Italy
• IMAGES-Festival of Independent Film & Video April -May 1998 Toronto-Canada
• Premiere – National Film Board of Canada Toronto – Canada – May 15, 1997
• Alternative Film & Video Festival June 7, 1997 Seattle- USA –
• ARTIST TALKS / NEW WORKS C.S.Video. June 24, 1997 Toronto-Canada
• Independent Exposure 1998 Seattle-USA
• Art & Revolution the Walter Phillips Gallery Nov-Dec 1998 Banff-Canada
• Winnipeg Microcinema March 25, 2000 Winnipeg – Canada
• Independent Exposure Global Vision Festival November 2-5, 2000 Edmonton – Canada