Last year, the Miami Film Festival came to an unexpected and disappointing end six days earlier than scheduled because of rising concerns related to COVID-19.
Just one year before this, in 2019, the festival brought in over 45,000 people who enjoyed an incredible schedule of over 170 documentaries, films and narratives from filmmakers from more than 40 different countries. This year, the festival has returned virtually, running March 5-14, for its 38th annual storytelling showcase.
One documentary garnering a lot of attention is “A La Calle,” directed by Venezuelan-American Nelson G. Navarrete and Colombian-American Maxx Caicedo. Emotional and timely, the film is about the current political and economic tailspin that Venezuela has experienced since Hugo Chávez took power in 1999, followed by Nicolás Maduro in 2013. As described by WLRN, “‘A La Calle’ examines in compelling detail Venezuelans’ struggle against their dictatorial socialist regime and brutal economic collapse. It opens with a harrowing scene of Venezuelan security forces firing on unarmed protesters in Caracas – but it closes with more optimistic images of opposition leader Juan Guaidó confronting the regime.”
After the death of Hugo Chávez in 2013, Maduro was elected into office. Almost immediately, the Venezuelan economy crashed and what was previously a prosperous, affluent country was led down a path that would result in the humanitarian crisis facing the country today. Basic necessities like food, water and medical treatment became scarce as inflation skyrocketed and governmental restrictions tightened. All the while, pro-government militias began responding to peaceful civil protests with violence and fear tactics designed to silence those speaking out against Maduro’s regime.
Just by watching the trailer for “A La Calle” one can get a feel for the seriousness of the film. “Working with a network of clandestine camera crews, the filmmakers spent three years recording exclusive interviews with key opposition figures including Leopoldo López – whose arrest and imprisonment inspired a national movement – and grassroots activist Nixon Leal, as well as a host of everyday citizens. ‘A La Calle’ captures the remarkable courage of the Venezuelan people as they unite to restore liberty to their country,” explains The Miami Film Festival website. The filmmakers were so dedicated to telling this story that some members of the camera crew were arrested during attendance at protests.
Filmmakers Navarrete and Caicedo rely on emotional footage of peaceful Venezuelan protests being met with violence from military officials and heartbreaking realities, like people rummaging through the garbage for food, to create awareness within the international community about the humanitarian crisis at hand. The film will screen virtually at noon on Tuesday, March 8th, and will precede a panel discussion where the filmmakers, Dr. Federicia Davila, founder of The Green Cross, Joshua Goodman, a Latin America correspondent for the Associated Press and Tamara Taraciuk-Broner, the acting deputy director of Americas Division of Human Rights Watch, will speak about the Venezuelan crisis.
To buy tickets visit https://miamifilmfestival.eventive.org/films/60104ede08dd6b004cbc435b and to learn more about The Miami Film Festival visit miamifilmfestival.com.