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CAMINOS DEL CINE INDÍGENA. DEL ESTEREOTIPO A LA AUTORREPRESENTACIÓN Was Held as Part of the 22nd FICM

Alan Rodríguez

The discussion “Caminos del cine indígena. Del estereotipo a autorrepresentación” was held as part of the II Lab for the Development of Film Projects for Indigenous and Afro-descendant Filmmakers of Latin America at the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). It was attended by Ana Nahmad, Dinazar Urbina, Amalia Córdova and Dante Cerano, and was moderated by Leilani Noguez.

The guests spoke about the categorization of Indigenous cinema and the limitations that this can generate.

“Indigenous peoples are diverse, they are multiple territories and nations (...). Sometimes the fact that indigenous cinema is categorized as a genre causes the audience to distance itself from it,” said Dinazar Urbina.

Meanwhile, Ana Ahmad, considered that this categorization has been monolithic and homogenizing, which has led the communities to appropriate this classification, resulting in a way of appearing in various settings that have made it problematic and raise questions in this regard.

During the conversation, Dante Cerano said: “I believe that the dimensions of our cinema must be linked to the most primordial issues of indigenous peoples.”

When questioned by the audience about the future of films made by indigenous communities, Amelia Córdova explained the importance of distribution and exhibition: “These films have to leave the festivals, the film industry must learn the ways in which films are made in the communities. This is essential to the formation of young filmmakers and new audiences”.

Finally, Leilani Noguez reiterated the importance of creating these dialogues, which benefit the conversation and pose new questions on the subject.

The II Lab for the Development of Film Projects for Indigenous and Afro-descendant Filmmakers of Latin America is possible thanks to the generous support of the Ibermedia Program, the Mexican Film Institute (IMCINE), SODEC, the Quebec Delegation in Mexico, the independent organization Cultural Survival, the NETFLIX Creative Equity Fund and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.