Frédéric Julien, a Montreal documentary filmmaker, chats with his team prior to shooting. Julien is one of the project mentors, sent to Bolivia to help the filmmakers express their ideas and teach its native people the skills to help develop local and national media organizations.
Delphine Denoiseux
The corner room on the third floor of the Residencial Sucre is very different from the other rooms in this hotel in downtown Copacabana, Bolivia. The windows are closed and the drapes are pulled, preventing light and noise from the cobblestone streets below from disturbing the eleven people who are packed inside preparing the documentaries.
Delphine Denoiseux
Beds and furniture have been removed and a pile of mattresses lines one wall. The room glows with the light emitted by four large computer monitors. Small groups huddle around work stations in each of the four corners of the room, pointing at the screens in deep discussion.
Delphine Denoiseux, a Belgian journalist sent to Bolivia on behalf of Oxfam-Quebec, brainstorms story ideas with team members in Copacabana.
James Stairs
Members of the film crew in Copacabana take a brief break to pose for a photo. They are part of the 18 young aboriginal participants working with Julien and Denoiseux to create documentary films exploring aspects of their lives and the issues facing their communities - including water pollution, inequality, and the effects of globalization on small rural villages and their people.
Delphine Denoiseux
"Actress" and film crew member in Copacabana and Cochabamba, María Huarina Mamani and her daughter, Brigite.
Delphine Denoiseux
Another native Bolivian film crew member in Copacabana, Elias. He, along with the others, are using film as a means to tackle the serious issues facing his community of 6 000 people, which sits on the shores of Lake Titicaca, high on the Bolivian altiplano.
Delphine Denoiseux
Reynaldo Yujra is a facilitateur of CEFREC (Centre for Cinema and Film Making), a non-governmental organization that provides technical training in film and video for the indigenous people of Bolivia and assists in producing and distributing their work.
Delphine Denoiseux
Film crew members, Reynaldo Yujra (left), Stif Pizarro (centre), and Francisca (right) working hard in Marke Qosco.
Delphine Denoiseux
Standing in central Copacanbana and squinting into the afternoon sun, project participant and 18 year old, Sandra Chuquimia talks about the film she has just completed, looking at the issue of economic migration.
Delphine Denoiseux
Sandra's parents, migrant workers who left the small rural village of Chachapoya for the major urban centre of La Paz.
Delphine Denoiseux
On set in Copacabana. Silence...action!
Delphine Denoiseux
Filmmakers interview Jorge, a traditional dancer in the community.
Delphine Denoiseux
The crew capture native Bolivians performing the traditional dance called, "Espijillani".
Delphine Denoiseux
Reporters carry out interviews for Radio Copacabana, Copacabana's current indigenous radio station - part of a larger national aboriginal network. Plans to add a community television channel represents a major victory in a decade-long battle for visibility and equality.
Delphine Denoiseux
In the community of Camacachi, the crew films a fishing scene on Lake Titicaca that will be used in the third documentary about the effects of water pollution for fisherman and the community.
Delphine Denoiseux
Filmmakers, William and Jimena, set up to film the project of Maria et Adalid - the two lead characters in the fishing film.
Delphine Denoiseux
Jimena and William shoot the preparation of the Aymara New Year ceremony on June 21. This project highlights the family transmission of traditional knowledge.
Delphine Denoiseux
Crew members experience the arrival of the first rays of sun, June 21.
Delphine Denoiseux
Julien and crew members prepare to shoot in Carretilleros.
Delphine Denoiseux
Shooting scenes for "Dengue".
Delphine Denoiseux
Project members prepare a traditional Bolivian lunch during a pre-production trip to Hueco.
James Stairs
Filming in the small village of Hueco.
James Stairs
CEFREC lead-instructor Franklin Gutiérrez Zarate, left, helps out during post-production. Zarate explains that prior to the idigenous rights movement in the 80s, aboriginals "weren't seen as humans with emotions and the ability to contribute to the country". Through film, Zarate and his crews are helping positively transform this perspective.
James Stairs
Project members in the "editing suite" huddle around one of the four work stations in the single hotel room.
Delphine Denoiseux
Sandra and Denoiseux deep in discussion during an editng session.
James Stairs
Julien, Jimena and crew work hard finalizing the finishing details.
James Stairs
An evening of film watching in Ayoreo. The films have been shown across Bolivia on a burgeoning network of community media, and around the world via the film festival circuit.
Delphine Denoiseux
