Colombia Film Honors Protest Victims, Embraces Imperfection

In Bogotá, Colombia, filmmakers screened Entre Luz, a short film built from the testimonies of youth protesters who lost their eyes to police bullets during the 2021 national strike. The film and its screening were intentionally collaborative and imperfect, reflecting a Latin American feminist tradition of testimonio where authorship is shared and personal narrative serves collective memory.

Filmmakers worked closely with groups like MOCAO, Teatro Morfosis, and community kitchens, allowing the event to be shaped by the participants themselves, including the presence of those impacted by state violence. The screening at La Casa de la Paz included batucada drumming, testimonial rap, and herbal tea served throughout the patio.

Feedback from the audience, including victims and their families, was incorporated into subsequent edits of the film, adding context about the 2021 protests and ensuring the memorial to those lost held their faces. The filmmakers intentionally embraced an “imperfect cinema,” prioritizing ethical rigor over polished aesthetics and recognizing the guiding influence of those who died fighting for social change. They believe the dead are not just remembered, but actively shape ongoing movements.