Day 2
Title: The Quipo Project: An Interactive Exhibition
10:30am-11:50pm
Space is limited for this interactive documentary exhibition, so please be sure to sign up for this panel during registration.
Description
The aim of The Quipu Project is to shine a light on the sterilizations, creating a collective memory of this case file. Their intention is that these stories are never forgotten, and that the abuses will never be repeated. The Quipu Project is working in partnership with Amnesty International to support the Against Their Will Their campaign, and in collaboration with local women's organizations to use this archive in their fight for recognition and reparation...
In the 1990s, during his 10-year reign as president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori launched a new family planning program that resulted in the sterilization of 272,028 women and 22,004 men in only 4 years. They were almost exclusively indigenous people living in rural areas. Thousands have claimed this was done without informed consent. Their stories have taken a long time to emerge because they have almost no means of media representation, often living in isolated villages. Many of them only speak Quechua or are illiterate, therefore they struggle to access the institutions of the Spanish-speaking Peruvian state. It w as only after President Fujimori's resignation in 2000 that the injustices started to come to light. After almost two decades they are still seeking justice.
Quipus are knotted cords that were used by the Incas and ancient Andean civilizations, to convey complex messages. The Quipu Project is a contemporary interpretation of this system as an interactive documentary project. The testimonies of around 150 sterilized people have been collected through a specially established phone line connected to a website that shares their stories. The expected number of voices will continue to grow and connect, building a community around this common issue.
In addition, the audience can record their reaction to the testimonies through the phone line and upload them to the archive. These messages are recorded and translated for the contributors, letting them know that people have listened and are supporting them and engaging in dialogue. For many collaborators this will be the first time their stories will be acknowledged outside their own communities.
Sandra Tabares-Duque, Producer, Quipu Project
Biography
After working for several years with film festivals in Europe and Latin America, Sandra decided to focus her love for cinema in the production of different forms of audio-visual storytelling. Her latest film productions: The award-winning Quipu Project (UK/Peru) sharing testimonies of forced sterilizations; a feature documentary film and interactive cross media project (Tribeca Film Festival Interactive day 2015, IDFA 2015, HotDocs 2016). InnSæi (UK/Iceland) a feature documentary on intuition and creativity. The Arts Council of England award wining Sailing Out Of Grain, and the Colombian film Did You See Cristina On The 7th March?.
She is currently working on Parable of the Return (UK/Colombia) and The Film I Never Made (UK) web series.
Sandra has a degree in Cultural Studies and has pursued further studies in world cinema and film-making with specific interest in new platforms.
Discussant
Jacqueline Simmons