Oaxaca Screenings: Mal de Ojo TV

screening of films produced by Mal de Ojo
followed by discussion with collective of filmmakers from Oaxaca

Showtimes are at 7:00 p.m. and 9 p.m on March 5 and 6

Roxie New College Film Center is pleased to present short documentaries from the Oaxaca Commune, produced by Mal de Ojo TV. A highly-contested presidential election and a Zapatista-led campaign to unite the anti-capitalist Left made 2006 a tumultuous year in Mexico. In the southern state of Oaxaca, a broad-based citizens’ movement to unseat an unpopular and corrupt governor turned into a grassroots uprising for direct democracy. For months, residents of Oaxaca City maintained more than 1,000 street barricades, sprawling protest encampments, occupations of government buildings and takeovers of broadcast media outlets. Mexico's federal government later sent in thousands of militarized police to crack down on the popular uprising and prop up the regime of the despised state governor. Witnessing all of these events unfold was a lively independent media movement. This series of short documentaries produced by Mal de Ojo TV provides a glimpse into life during one of the most vibrant movements in contemporary Latin America. Mal de Ojo TV collective members and Free Speech Radio News Oaxaca correspondent will be at the screenings for a Q &A session between the presentations. Showtimes are at 7:00 p.m. and 9 p.m. People coming to the 9:00 p.m. showing are encouraged to arrive early for the Q&A session after the earlier showing.