By Erika Gonzalez Ramirez, Lietaert Matthieu, Erika González and Matthieu Lietaert

The Illusion of Abundance

We Are Berta

Berta lives deep in the Lenca indigenous region of Honduras, Carolina is in the middle of the historical mining region in Brazil, and Maxima resists from her house in Peru, 4000 meters high up next to the world’s second-largest gold mine. Despite the distance, these women share a common goal: leading today’s fight against corporate conquistadors. Whereas governments and corporations are racing to get the cheapest raw materials for their unlimited growth, Berta, Carolina, and Maxima tell us the other side of the story: How to keep protecting our planet when your life is at risk? When police repression, long and tiring trials, harassment and injuries, even death threats are part of your daily routine? The Illusion of Abundance tells the stories of those who pay the high price of ‘development’. It shows the inspiring conviction of three women, who globalized their resistance to hunting down corporations, wherever they hide.

Sections : Impact Days, Impact Days

Country : Brazil, Honduras, Peru, Belgium, Germany

Original languages : Spanish, Portuguese, English

Directors

Erika Gonzalez Ramirez
Lietaert Matthieu
Erika González (Belgium)
Matthieu Lietaert (Belgium)

Producers

Erika Gonzalez Ramirez
Lietaert Matthieu
Erika González (Belgium)
Matthieu Lietaert (Belgium)
Not So Crazy! Productions

Completion

October 2022

Impact Statement

We plan to build an international community ready to support land defenders. Thanks to the involvement of 70 NGOs from 14 different countries, our primary audience reaches several hundreds of thousands of people. We believe in the creative power of these committed citizens to spread awareness to a larger audience. Our film community will be able to, firstly, join the international campaign “Be a Local Land Defender, Wherever You Are!”. Inspired by our film protagonists, we will promote small and local actions, non-violent and coordinated actions around the film. Secondly, take part in the international tour, with our protagonists, to influence the regulations on Business and Human Rights currently under negotiation (online and offline events/actions). And thirdly, join online actions to pressure selected corporations, which have clearly not respected Human Rights/Nature Rights.

Support environmental defenders, who are risking their life to protect our planet. As parliaments around the world will be voting about their protection and about transnational corporate responsibility in the coming years, join our impact tour!

Impact Goals

To spread awareness of land defenders, risking their lives to protect our planet.
To adopt mandatory regulations on Business & Human Rights (currently under negotiations at an international level).
To build a creative community, active on the issue of land defenders, in the EU, the USA, and Latin America.

Impact Strategy

To unleash the potential of our film community, with a dedicated staff, for a period of 12 months.
To join the campaign “Be a Local Land Defender, Wherever You Are!” (i.e. organising nano-screenings in your living room, team-cleaning your local forest, confronting your local politicians on clean production chain).
To participate in an international advocacy tour with our protagonists and our NGOs partners.
To screen our film at the UN “Stockholm 50+: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity”.
To put pressure on lawmakers, as well as corporations through online and offline events.
To organise screenings and events in cities from 14 countries (EU/USA).
To develop a professional press and social media campaign around film and campaign.
To offer a 20-minute cut for pedagogical use + toolkit for teachers (audience 16+).
To use the momentum of the EU/US campaigns to find partners in Latin America.
To turn the film into a copyleft production to increase accessibility in low-income countries (expected around one year after film launch).

Contact

Primary contact

Matthieu Lietaert (Belgium): matthieu@notsocrazy.net

Participants present at the Impact Days

Erika González (Belgium)
Matthieu Lietaert (Belgium)

Existing Partners

Organisations and Funding Partners

Belgium:
Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD)
Oxfam Belgium
Protection International
11.11.11
European Environmental Bureau (network)
CIDSE (network)
EU LAT (network)

The Netherlands:
Both Ends
IUCN Netherlands
Vastenactie

Luxembourg:
ASTM
Klima Bündnis Lëtzebuer

Spain:
Intermón OXFAM

Ireland:
Trocaire

France:
CCFD Terre Solidaire

Germany:
Misereor
Bread for the World

Austria:
DKA

Norway:
CARE

Denmark:
Oxfam IBIS

Sweden:
We Effect

USA:
The Swift Foundation

Switzerland:
The Storyboard Collective
Heks Eper
ISHR
Fastenaktion

Global:
The International Land Coalition (ILC)

MEDIA
Marché du Film (Festival de Cannes)
Belgian Federal Public Service – Foreign Affairs
Mr Mondialisation (influencer with 1.5 million
followers)

TV market / Broadcaster
Global Pitch 2022 – Women’s Voices
ARTE
AL JAZEERA
France TV

World sales agent
First Hand Films

Impact Funder
The Yes Men

Envisaged Partners