The award-winning Nicaraguan documentary “Patrullaje” (Patrolling), which addresses the situation faced by indigenous communities in the face of cattle ranching expansion, will premiere this coming August 16, 17, and 18 virtually and free of charge at 7:00 pm (Nicaraguan time) through a secure virtual platform, its production company reported in a statement.
The feature film directed and produced by the Nicaraguan Camilo de Castro Belli next to Brad Allgoodportrays the serious environmental crisis that Nicaragua is going through and the mission of a group of forest rangers and an American conservationist who travel through the Indio Maíz Reserve and expose the reality they face.
The film, which was produced over a period of seven years, not only follows the patrols of the indigenous villages of Rama, but also manages to capture the other reality, that of the ranchers, amidst mistrust. The documentary shows their position and progress in the forested area of Nicaragua.
For the producers of the documentary, the release of Patrullaje is a victory over official government censorship on the issue of deforestation and settlers. “It is a tribute to indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples who continue to bravely resist and demand respect for their rights and ancestral lands,” they say.
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The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Marena) recognizes that the main cause of deforestation is the expansion of cattle ranching, as meat producers seek out these lands to increase cattle production in response to growing demand in countries such as the United States and other major markets.
The film’s screening aims to promote the United States’ anti-deforestation law (The Forest Act), demand greater transparency in Nicaragua’s beef supply chain, and generate awareness among consumers and importers.
If you are interested in watching the documentary, You must first register in this link, select the day of the screening and fill out a three-question form for security reasons.
The film won 12 international awards, including the Jackson Wild Awards and Panda Awards, considered the most important environmental film awards in the world. The directors of the documentary will hold a virtual forum on the same platform on Friday 16th, accompanied by Nicaraguan journalist Tifani Roberts, forest ranger Armando John Mcrea and conservationist Christopher Jordan.
