This long-standing community and educational event is generously sponsored by the Cal Poly Humboldt Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ODEI) and presented by the World Languages & Cultures department. Students and the general public are invited to the free event, which includes screenings of three outstanding films relating to the theme, “Women, Power & Politics.” Films include: La Historia Oficial (Directed by Luis Puenzo, 1985, Argentina), In the Time of the Butterflies (Directed by Mariano Barroso, 2001, Dominican Republic), and La Llorona (Directed by Jayro Bustamante, 2019, Guatemala).
Students enrolled in HIST, ES, SPAN 396 can receive course credit for attending the festival.
The keynote speaker for this year’s festival is Jane Jaquette. A Professor Emerita of Politics at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Jaquette edited and co-edited books that include, The Women’s Movement in Latin America: Feminism and the Transition to Democracy; The Women’s Movement and Latin America: Participation and Democracy; Women and Democracy: Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe; Women and Gender Equity in Development Theory and Practice; and Feminist Agendas and Democracy in Latin America. She has published in several journals, symposium volumes, and encyclopedias, including essays reassessing feminist perspectives on Machiavelli and Hobbes.
Each evening begins with an introduction to the film by Jaquette. Following the screening, a panelist composed of members of Cal Poly Humboldt, College of the Redwoods, community members, and the keynote speaker will share their analysis of the film with the audience and engage in an interactive discussion.
The films will appear in the following order:
Monday, Feb. 24h: La Historia Oficial
After the end of the Dirty War in Argentina, a high school teacher sets out to find out the identity of her adopted daughter’s biological mother.
Panelists include: Maral N. Atallah, Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies instructor at Cal Poly Humboldt, and Fernando Calderon, community member
Moderated by Rosamel Benavides, ODEI Associate Vice-President at Cal Poly Humboldt
Tuesday, Feb. 25: In the Time of the Butterflies
Based on Julia Alvarez's novel depicting the true story of the Mirabal sisters, Dominican revolutionary activists who bravely opposed the brutal dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, ultimately leading to their assassination in 1960.
Panelists: Stephanie Burkhalter, Politics professor at Cal Poly Humboldt, and Abigail Queen, History faculty at College of the Redwoods
Moderated by: Julie Alderson—Art + Film professor at Cal Poly Humboldt
Wednesday, Feb. 26: La Llorona
A country’s bloody history stains the present in the Guatemalan auteur Jayro Bustamante’s transfixing fusion of folk horror and searing political commentary, inspired by the real-life indictment of the authoritarian Efraín Ríos Montt for crimes against humanity.
Panelists: Ryder Dschida, History instructor at Cal Poly Humboldt, Renee Byrd, English professor at Cal Poly Humboldt, and Elsa Judith Castro, community member
Moderated by: Fernando Paz, ODEI Campus and Community Development Coordinator at Cal Poly Humboldt
For all questions regarding this event, please contact the Cal Poly Humboldt Department of World Languages & Cultures at (707) 826-3226 or wlc@humboldt.edu.