A film directed by ANABEL RODRÍGUEZ and produced by SEPP BRUDERMANN
ONCE UPON A TIME IN VENEZUELA
UPCOMING
BEST OF TALKS
DEBRA ZIMMERMAN - SIMON KILMURRY
GABRIELA RODRÍGUEZ - LISA KLEINER CHANOFF
RAÚL NIÑO
TALK WITH
DEBRA ZIMMERMAN
Exec. Director WOMEN MAKE MOVIES
TALK WITH
SIMON KILMURRY
Exec. Director International Documentary Association
TALK WITH
LISA KLEINER CHANOFF
Catapult Film Fund
TALK WITH
LISA KLEINER CHANOFF
Catapult Film Fund
TALK WITH
GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Producer ROMA
TALK WITH
RAÚL NIÑO
Senior Programmer IDFA
TRAILER
SYNOPSIS
On Lake Maracaibo, beneath the mysterious silent Catatumbo lightning, the village of Congo Mirador is preparing for parliamentary elections. For streetwise local businesswoman and Chavist party representative Tamara every vote counts, fought by all means, while for opposition-supporting teacher Natalie, politics is a weapon unsuccessfully attempting to force her from her job. And with her sharp eyes, little Yoaini sees her community sinking from sedimentation, her childhood and innocence with it. How can a small shing village survive against corruption, pollution and political decay – a reflection of all the flaws of contemporary Venezuela.
Directed by ANABEL RODRÍGUEZ RÍOS Produced & Edited by SEPP R. BRUDERMANN Written by ANABEL RODRÍGUEZ RÍOS - SEPP R. BRUDERMANN Direction of Photography JOHN MÁRQUEZ Sound MARCO SALAVERRÍA - GHERMAN GIL Sound Design DANIEL TURINI - FERNANDO HENNA - HENRIQUE CHIURCIU Music NASCUY LINARES Story Editors RICARDO ACOSTA - THOMAS KRAG Executive Producers SEPP R. BRUDERMANN - CLAUDIA LEPAGE Co-Producers ARASH T. RIAHI - MALU CAMPOS - JOE TORRES - NANCY HARRISON
HOW IT ALL STARTED
THE BARREL - 11minutes, 2012
The first time we went to Congo Mirador with the intention to film a unique phenomenon, the silent lightning called “Relámpago del Catatumbo”. Now, 7 years later we have a story to tell about the human condition of the Venezuelan society today, in times in which our country is devastated.
During that first trip, while waiting for the silent lightning to show up in the night sky, between rum, songs and conversations under the infinite universe, some kids approached us. They were rowing towards us in tiny improvised boats made out of thrown away oil barrels. Amongst them there was then 10 year old Luis David Villasmil - “El Catire”. This was the moment when the idea was born for “The Barrel”, a short film we shot with these kids in Congo Mirador, what we did not know, this short was just the beginning of a journey that would lead us to Sundance Film Festival many years later.
Here, for the first time for free and public: THE BARREL.
QUOTES
“Sublimely Disturbing, ... Striking"
Todd McCarthy
Deadline
"Truly Exceptional"
Debra Zimmerman
Exec Director Women Make Movies
“Transcending Space and Time"
Simon Kilmurry
Exec Director IDA