Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax Festival of Working People in the Arts is proud to partner once again with the
Canadian Labour International Film Festival for a satellite screening of films from their 15th annual festival.
The screening takes place November 10, 7:30 PM, at the Bus Stop Theatre Co-op.
This year, we will be screening Bergie (South Africa) by Dian Weys, Shiringa: Amazon White Gold (Peru) by Oscar Akamine, Lentejas (Spain) by José A. Campos, HongKongers:A Re-Collection – My Destiny or My Choice? (UK) by Green Bean Media, Allegory (Spain) by Tino Fernández, Puanum (Dream) (Canada) by Josée Benjamin, and Serigne (Spain) by Rodrigo Hernandez Tejero, Adriana Cardoso Navarro, & Edu Marin.
All films are translated as needed through subtitles in English.
Total run time: 87 minutes. The screening will be followed by a moderated discussion for those interested.
Admission is by donation.
THE FILMS:
Bergie (South Africa) by Dian Weys (7 min)
The term “bergie” is a South Africanism that refers to people that are homeless. This short film presents the viewer with a problem – a law enforcement officer has to remove homeless people sleeping on a path in the city in order to make way for a 10km fun-run. To do this, he has to wrestle with fundamental questions about the dignity of human life. Language: English & Afrikaans.
Shiringa: Amazon White Gold (Peru) by Oscar Akamine (9 min)
This documentary follows Jorge Escompani, a “Shiringa” master, as he shows us how he extracts natural latex from the Shiringa tree. The extraction of latex from the Shiringa tree has led to the death of thousands of indigenous people due to slavery during “the fever of latex” in the 19th century. Current practices reflect a respectful relationship between the trees and those who depend on it for survival. Language: English & Spanish.
Lentejas (Spain) by José A. Campos (8 min)
A humorous look at the gig economy and what work is like right now for many white collar workers who have to hustle for every contract and need multiple contracts to make a living. Workers can be anywhere – it just depends on the backdrop, and how long you can hold the illusion together. “Lentils (Lentejas): if you want, eat them; if you don’t, leave them.” Language: Spanish.
HongKongers:A Re-Collection – My Destiny or My Choice? (UK) by Green Bean Media (18 min)
This documentary follows the experience of Siu Tat MUNG, who was a leader in the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), as he recounts his experiences during the last few years it was in existence. HKCTU members voted to disband the union on October 3, 2021, following pro-democracy protests in 2019-2020. At least 29 Hong Kong trade unions were dissolved throughout 2021. Siu Tat Mung explains the conditions in Hong Kong and the reasons for asking his family to relocate to Great Britain. Through his story we are able to experience the difficult situation evolving for Trade Unionists and others working in Hong Kong in 2021. Language: Cantonese.
Allegory (Spain) by Tino Fernández (13 min)
Ten participants are about to start a race in which the most important thing is not to win, but to arrive, in the race of their lives. This film is an allegory for the working class about class struggle and life. It raises good questions through its poetic approach about what life is all about. Language: Spanish.
Puanum (Dream) (Canada) by Josée Benjamin (5 min)
This short documentary, directed by an Innu filmmaker, features Jordan, a young french speaking, indigenous fisherman. As we spend a typical day on his boat fishing for whelk, he tells us the story of his journey towards becoming the captain of a fishing boat. Language: French.
Serigne (Spain) by Rodrigo Hernandez Tejero, Adriana Cardoso Navarro, & Edu Marin. (27 min)
In this extraordinary documentary, we follow Serigne Mbay, a politician, and his inspirational story, as he works to educate his fellow citizens and politicians about the effects of current European fishing trade agreements on his home country of Senegal. The landscapes and the portraits of the people in this film are breathtakingly beautiful. Language: Spanish.
