Switch off
a documentary film by Manel Mayol
One of the world's largest dams, Ralco, on the river Biobío in Chile, opened in 2004 after numerous clashes with the Mapuche people. The land of this ancient indigenous community has been flooded by Endesa, the Spanish multinational company.
The Biobío is the longest river in Chile. It starts in the Andes and runs to the Pacific Ocean. This river not only has a great ecological value but it is also of historical and political significance. The Spanish conquerors never gained control of the area south of the river and so the Biobío was the natural border below which the native Pehuenche-Mapuche people could live in peace.
Endesa was the first electricity company in Spain and Latin America, as well as one of the first in Europe. In its "brilliant" career Endesa can take pride in being Europe's fourth largest emmiter of carbon dioxide gas, making it a major contributor to climate change. It hs also been condemmed by the United Nations of human rights violation and genocide against the Pehuenche-Mapuche people.
The Mapuche have opposed the Ralco project since 1997, when Endesa first planned the construction of the hydro-electric dam. For protection they relied on the "indigenous law" which guaranteed them land rights in the Biobío valley, however Endesa soon found its way around this legislation.
Endesa, a public Spanish company until 1997, was privatized by the government of Jose Maria Aznar. Its first president, Rodolfo Martin Villa was, among other things, once director of the Fascist Union and Governor of Barcelona during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. In Chile, Martín Villa found, in president Eduardo Frei, a man who "understood" him perfectly. When Frei cancelled the CONADI (National Committee of Indigenous people, responsible for protecting the indigenous law), Martín Villa responded by intervening to prevent the former dictator of Chile, Augusto Pinochet from being extradited to Spain. As a result of his lobbying (and that of others) Pinochet returned to Chile where he never faced trial for his crimes.
In May 2004, the flood of the Biobío valley began. 70 indigenous families that exchanged land with Endesa were forced to move to cabins high in the Andes, 2000m above sea level. They have been without electricity for more than three years and they still don´t have phone lines. Endesa provides them with a van as a form of ambulance but only from Monday to Friday, on weekends they rest.
This Manel Mayol's documentary (director and co-writer with Clément Darrasse) portrays the Spanish economic recolonisation in Latin America, through the corrupted and sad example of the construction of the Ralco hydroelectric dam in the Andes of Chile and the Mapuche territory. The film participated in over 60 festivals and won 7 awards, was shot in super 16 mm by Chilean head of photography Sergio Armstrong. Released in Spain, France and in many cities in Germany and Italy in partnership with Eyz Media and Documé. Suevia films distributes the film in DVD. Online purchase available through their web page.
Festivals and Prices
"Apaga y vámonos" screened at more than 70 festivals and recieved several prices and mentions:
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) - Official selection 2005
Hot Docs Toronto - World Premiere 2005
Planet in Focus Toronto - Best Film 2005
Ecocinema Atenas - Bes Film 2005
"Dignity & Work" International Film Festival Gdansk - Special Price of the Jury 2005
Festival de Cine de Bogotá - Special Mention 2005
Galway Film Fleadh - Special Mention 2005
Distribution and colaborators of the documentary
www.eyzmedia.de
www.docume.org
www.lasamericasfilms.org
http://apagayvamonosdocumental.blogspot.com/
http://ceibo-producciones.blogspot.com/
www.sueviafilms.com
Online distribution VOD :
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http://www.realeyz.tv/en/manel-mayol-switch-off_cont214.html
www.docsonline.tv
Some related links and/or more info
www.azkintuwe.org
http://meli.mapuches.org
www.mapuexpress.net
http://radio.mapuche.nl
www.ecosistemas.cl
www.defensapatagonia.clwww.patagoniasinrepresas.clwww.radionizkor.org
Endesa was the first electricity company in Spain and Latin America, as well as one of the first in Europe. In its "brilliant" career Endesa can take pride in being Europe's fourth largest emmiter of carbon dioxide gas, making it a major contributor to climate change. It hs also been condemmed by the United Nations of human rights violation and genocide against the Pehuenche-Mapuche people.
The Mapuche have opposed the Ralco project since 1997, when Endesa first planned the construction of the hydro-electric dam. For protection they relied on the "indigenous law" which guaranteed them land rights in the Biobío valley, however Endesa soon found its way around this legislation.
Endesa, a public Spanish company until 1997, was privatized by the government of Jose Maria Aznar. Its first president, Rodolfo Martin Villa was, among other things, once director of the Fascist Union and Governor of Barcelona during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. In Chile, Martín Villa found, in president Eduardo Frei, a man who "understood" him perfectly. When Frei cancelled the CONADI (National Committee of Indigenous people, responsible for protecting the indigenous law), Martín Villa responded by intervening to prevent the former dictator of Chile, Augusto Pinochet from being extradited to Spain. As a result of his lobbying (and that of others) Pinochet returned to Chile where he never faced trial for his crimes.
In May 2004, the flood of the Biobío valley began. 70 indigenous families that exchanged land with Endesa were forced to move to cabins high in the Andes, 2000m above sea level. They have been without electricity for more than three years and they still don´t have phone lines. Endesa provides them with a van as a form of ambulance but only from Monday to Friday, on weekends they rest.
This Manel Mayol's documentary (director and co-writer with Clément Darrasse) portrays the Spanish economic recolonisation in Latin America, through the corrupted and sad example of the construction of the Ralco hydroelectric dam in the Andes of Chile and the Mapuche territory. The film participated in over 60 festivals and won 7 awards, was shot in super 16 mm by Chilean head of photography Sergio Armstrong. Released in Spain, France and in many cities in Germany and Italy in partnership with Eyz Media and Documé. Suevia films distributes the film in DVD. Online purchase available through their web page.
Festivals and Prices
"Apaga y vámonos" screened at more than 70 festivals and recieved several prices and mentions:
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) - Official selection 2005
Hot Docs Toronto - World Premiere 2005
Planet in Focus Toronto - Best Film 2005
Ecocinema Atenas - Bes Film 2005
"Dignity & Work" International Film Festival Gdansk - Special Price of the Jury 2005
Festival de Cine de Bogotá - Special Mention 2005
Galway Film Fleadh - Special Mention 2005
Distribution and colaborators of the documentary
www.eyzmedia.de
www.docume.org
www.lasamericasfilms.org
http://apagayvamonosdocumental.blogspot.com/
http://ceibo-producciones.blogspot.com/
www.sueviafilms.com
Online distribution VOD :
http://www.realeyz.tv/en/manel-mayol-switch-off_cont214.html
www.docsonline.tv
Some related links and/or more info
www.azkintuwe.org
http://meli.mapuches.org
www.mapuexpress.net
http://radio.mapuche.nl
www.ecosistemas.cl
www.defensapatagonia.clwww.patagoniasinrepresas.clwww.radionizkor.org
Factsheet
Title: Apaga y vamonos
English Title: Switch off
Production company: Andoliado Producciones
Genre: Feature documentary
Length: 82’
Languages: Spanish, Mapudungun
Subtitles: English, French
Shooting format: super 16mm
Screening format: 35 mm - Digital Beta
Color: Color
Sound: Dolby stereo
Film in: Chili
Country: Spain
Year: 2005
Crew
Director: Manel Mayol
Executive producer: Esteban Bernatas
Script: Clément Darrasse y Manel Mayol
DOP & camera: Sergio Armstrong
Editing: Christian Fuma
Direct Sound: Alfonso Segura
Original Music: Delfí Ramírez
Animation: Fleur Noguera
1st camera assist. and focus puller: Cristian Petit-Laurent
Camera assistant: Gerardo Lukaschewsky
Assistant Director: Clément Darrasse
Production assistant: Felipe Araneda, Natalia Ferretti and Luz Muñoz
Runners: Jona Borrut, Pedro Cayuqueo, Miguel Angel Delgado and Paula Honorato
Sound director: Jorge Stavropulos
Sound editing & mixing: Javier Stavropulos and Alexis Stavropulos
Mix: Sound Rec
Chile production services: CEIBO Producciones
Negative Cut: Jorge Andresson and Daniel Garín
Archive material: TVN Chile
With
Alihuen Antileo, Lonko Antolín, Pedro Cayuqueo, Roberto Celedón, Maria Collianao, Juan Agustín Figueroa, Mireya Figueroa, Hugo Gutierrez, José Millanao, Marypil Peoypang, J. Domingo Puelma, Alejandro Navarro, Nicolasa Quintreman.
Title: Apaga y vamonos
English Title: Switch off
Production company: Andoliado Producciones
Genre: Feature documentary
Length: 82’
Languages: Spanish, Mapudungun
Subtitles: English, French
Shooting format: super 16mm
Screening format: 35 mm - Digital Beta
Color: Color
Sound: Dolby stereo
Film in: Chili
Country: Spain
Year: 2005
Crew
Director: Manel Mayol
Executive producer: Esteban Bernatas
Script: Clément Darrasse y Manel Mayol
DOP & camera: Sergio Armstrong
Editing: Christian Fuma
Direct Sound: Alfonso Segura
Original Music: Delfí Ramírez
Animation: Fleur Noguera
1st camera assist. and focus puller: Cristian Petit-Laurent
Camera assistant: Gerardo Lukaschewsky
Assistant Director: Clément Darrasse
Production assistant: Felipe Araneda, Natalia Ferretti and Luz Muñoz
Runners: Jona Borrut, Pedro Cayuqueo, Miguel Angel Delgado and Paula Honorato
Sound director: Jorge Stavropulos
Sound editing & mixing: Javier Stavropulos and Alexis Stavropulos
Mix: Sound Rec
Chile production services: CEIBO Producciones
Negative Cut: Jorge Andresson and Daniel Garín
Archive material: TVN Chile
With
Alihuen Antileo, Lonko Antolín, Pedro Cayuqueo, Roberto Celedón, Maria Collianao, Juan Agustín Figueroa, Mireya Figueroa, Hugo Gutierrez, José Millanao, Marypil Peoypang, J. Domingo Puelma, Alejandro Navarro, Nicolasa Quintreman.
