Film screening: 500 Years: Life in Resistance

Date: Tuesday 20 August
Time: 14:30-17:00
Venue: Bergen Global, Jekteviksbakken 31

This event is part of the Bergen Exchanges 2019. For a full schedule of the week’s events, see here.

500 years tells the story of mounting resistance in Guatemala’s recent history. The documentary tells the epic story that led Guatemala to a tipping point in their history, from the genocide trial of General Rios Montt to the citizen uprising that toppled President Otto Perez Molina. Focusing on universal themes of justice, racism, power and corruption, 500 YEARS tells the story from the perspective of the majority indigenous Mayan population, and their struggles in the country’s growing democracy.

Irma Alicia Velasquez Nimatuj is one of the leading voices fighting against impunity for the mass violence and genocide visited on indigenous Mayan populations in Guatemala during the country’s civil war. The film explains the struggles of indigenous peoples in Guatemala for justice. Discussion after the film will be led by Rachel Sieder, who has worked with indigenous lawyers’ collectives in Guatemala litigating to ensure guarantees of collective rights.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with this year’s annual lecturer, Irma Alicia Velasquez Nimatuj.

You can find out more about the documentary here.