Huicholes: The Last Peyote Guardians nominated Best Documentary Red National Film Festival

Nov 4, 2014 –­– The film Huicholes: The Last Peyote Guardians has been nominated for Best Documentary Film by the Red Nation Film Festival, the premier showcase for Native American and Indigenous film in the United States. The film ranks among some tough competition, going head to head with producer Johnny Depp in LaDonna Harris: Indian 101.

“This film is a very important film because it not only involves all the issues that we face (as Indigenous People) but the bigger picture is the spirituality that is key to my heart and the Festivals.  It is the power of our medicine through film in telling the truth as we walk with our ancestors,” said Joanelle Romero, Executive Producer and Founder of the Los Angeles based Red Nation Film Festival.

     The California premiere of the film will take place at the Red Nation Film Festival in Beverly Hills on Nov. 7 (screening details: https://www.facebook.com/events/ 837138496308143/) before making multiple stops in in the greater Los Angeles area, including 2 stops at local colleges and a special community premiere hosted by various grassroots organizations.  Film director Hernan Vilchez and two Marakate (Huichol spiritual leaders), the father and son protagonists, will introduce and discuss the film at 30+ screenings in 20 different North American cities.

They will be represented at the Red Nation Film Festival by the local screening committee, which will help decide the program, set the agenda and draw the connections between local issues and those portrayed in the film – and there are many, according to Felicia Montes of the spiritual artivist collective, Mujeres de Maiz, “Our Xican@ Indigenous and immigrant communities know the struggle of land, culture and spirituality and have a long relationship with this community- the screening will bring together these circles and issues once again.”

The news comes as the crew prepares for our US Premiere this Wednesday, Nov 5, at Rice Theater in Houston.

“The documentary does what all great art should do: bring people together and persuade them to act for a vital cause,” said Charles Dove of Rice University and former director of the theater. (Houston screening details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1487363068207634/)

The documentary presents the emblematic case of the defense of Wirikuta, sacred territory to the Wixárika (Huichol) people against the threat of transnational mining corporations. The Wixárika people, native to the Sierra Madre, have since time immemorial made their pilgrimages to this land; now they find themselves at the forefront of a spiritual crusade to protect life, evidencing the internal contradictions in our materialistic world.

“This documentary combines stunning cinematography with engaged and compassionate storytelling to bring an underrepresented tale of resistance to Cinema Politica audiences and beyond,” said Ezra Winton, co-founder of the Montreal-based media arts organization.

The movie, which drew 3,000 people to a single showing in Mexico City, won awards in Argentina and brought a mining industry executive to tears in Chile, has been sought by viewers in more than 40 countries, many of whom are going on to organize showings in their own cities.

The film crew has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help defray the expenses of the film and tour at www.indiegogo.com – Search word: Huicholes film. For details about the various screenings visit www.huicholesfilm.com. You can also find information on Facebook: @Huicholes: The Last Peyote Guardians and Twitter: @PeyoteGuardians, and it can be rented online at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/huicholesfilm. Itinerary attached.

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US/CANADA FILM TOUR ITINERARY – Nov./Dec. 2014

USA

Nov. 7 – California Premiere: Red Nation Film Festival – Laemmle Music Hall Theater – 7 pm

Texas

Houston

Nov 5 – Rice Cinema – 7 pm

Nov 6 – East Side community screening – 7 pm

Austin

Nov 7 – 5604 Manor Community Center – 7 pm.

San Antonio

Nov 8 – Esperanza Peace and Justice Center– 6 pm

Nov 9 – San Antonio Public Library – Mission Branch – 2-5 pm

Nov 10 – San Antonio Public Library – Igo Branch – 2-5 pm

New Mexico

Taos

Nov 12 – Taos Mesa Brewing Co. – 8:30 pm

Nov 13 – Taos Center for the Arts – 7 pm

Santa Fe Nov 14 – Museum of Indian Arts and Culture – 7 pm

Albuquerque

Nov 15 – La Plazita Institute | Nov 16 – Indian Pueblo Culture Center – 1 pm

California

San Diego Area

Nov 17 – San Diego State University – 5 pm

Nov 18 – Chula Vista Public Library – 2 pm

WorldBeat Cultural Center – 7 pm

Los Angeles Area

Nov 19 – Fullerton College Campus Theater – 6 pm

Nov 20 – Pasadena City College, Harbeson Hall – 6 pm

Nov 21 – Legacy LA – 6:30 pm

Bay Area

Nov 22 – San Francisco – ANSWER Coalition – 6 pm reception – 7 pm screening

Arizona

Phoenix

Dec 1 – Crescent Ballroom – 7:30 pm

Tucson

Dec 2 – The Loft Cinema – 7 pm

Sedona

Dec 3 – Sedona Film Festival – Mary Fisher Theater – 4 pm and 7 pm

Flagstaff

Dec 5 – Center for Indigenous Music and Culture – 7 pm

CANADA

Montreal

Nov 24 – Cinema Politica/Concordia University Auditorium – 7 pm

Toronto

Nov 26 – University of Toronto – OISE Auditorium – 6:30 pm

Nov 27 – York University, Mirkopolis Theater – 7 pm

Vancouver

Nov 28 – SFU Woodwards Auditorium – 7 pm

Nov 29 – Dogwood Centre – “What are we doing to care for our world’s life?” Community Dinner and networking with organizers – 3 to 8 pm

US Venues working on confirmation

Denver, Colo. – Dec. 6-7

Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco and Nevada City, Calif. – Dec. 8-15

Press Contact, USA & Canada Film Tour: Tracy Barnett | 210-867-9767 | [email protected]