The Future of Chinampas: A Perspective From Its People, 30min., Mexico
Directed by Aldo Márquez
The Interdisciplinary Environmental Association (IEA) and the Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad-IE (LANCIS) UNAM have partnered with Restauracion Ecológica y Desarrollo, (REDES), to present, “The Future of Chinampas: A Perspective From Its People ”. This documentary aims to bring attention to Xochimilco, a sensitive and important agroecosystem in the southern part of Mexico City. Restauración Ecológica y Desarrollo, REDES, informs the audience about a sensitive agroecosystem in the southern part of Mexico City. The story is told from the perspective of local farmers who express both their efforts to maintain relevance despite the state’s changes in food production, and to conserve and restore what is for many farmers their only livelihood. Ongoing conflicts with governments, water scarcity and a changing society are present in Xochimilco, along with a desire to preserve centuries of agriculture tradition.

https://www.instagram.com/aldomarquez.foto.cine.musica/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The idea of making this documentary came from Elsa Valente who is a biologist, I had worked with her on another documentary a year before, that film was about agroecological practices. This time Elsa called me to make a new documentary with a new team, almost all of them were biologists or worked on ecological issues. The concept of the film was built mainly with biologists Elsa Valente, Paola Massyel, Olivia Cason and myself. Elsa worked in an NGO dedicated to training in agroecological practices among other things; Paola is an academic and works at LANCIS of the UNAM Institute of Ecology; Olivia works on behalf of Interdisciplinary Environmental Association (IEA), a non-profit academic organization committed to the exchange and generation of knowledge between academics, researchers, professionals, activists and students in the broad field of environmental sciences and interdisciplinary studies. And finally myself, who dedicates to communication and filmmaking. The work was intended to be presented at IEA conferences, but also to be distributed at festivals so that it could reach a larger audience.
And the idea of the film was to give the main voice to the agricultural producers who work every day in the chinampas. What we wanted was to know their voices, feelings, thoughts about the beauty of living there as well as all the problems they have to face day after day.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

We started talking in January 2021, and practically the entire pre-production stage must have lasted about 7 months. The filming took place over the course of a week at the end of July, a very intense week where interviews were carried out with the agricultural producers as well as taking shots of the chinampas, the lakes and all of nature. Post-production was from August to October. Finally the work was presented online as part of the conferences organized by the IEA. And in November, a month later, it was shown to farmers and a debate was organized after the film was presented.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Awareness-raising

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Making a proffessional film with a very limited Budget.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was impressed, because sometimes, as a creator or a person who is very involved in a project, you can wonder if it is clear enough, and the audience understood the message perfectly and they also went deeper. One of them asked what can we do with this now? And it is an excellent question because the problems are there and we can do something to change them, that is one of the reasons for documentaries and films. Create awareness.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Since I was a child, maybe 13 years old. I felt a great need to do it.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Well, David Lynch recently passed by, and I think Mulholland Drive is the movie I’ve seen the most times, maybe it’s that one and 200: A Space Odissey.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

It has been an incredible experience and receiving feedback is invaluable. I think being able to organize live feedback to a debate can be an interesting practice.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

FilmFreeaway is an extraordinary platform and I really enjoy looking for festivals that this work can participate in. You can find thousands of festivals and just seeing the different festivals that exist gives you ideas to work on something new.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Chiles in Nogada. Delicious typical Mexican food that can only be cooked in July and August because the walnut is seasonal.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Yes, I am working on new ideas to make new films, I work in photography and I am also a musician so I have some projects in mind for this year.