Join us for a special evening:
Guatemala’s first-ever entry for an Academy Award, and the first film made in the Kaqchikel Maya language featuring nonprofessional actors, “Ixcanul” weaves a story of hardship and resilience around a young Indigenous Kaqchikel woman.
Teenaged María lives with her parents, who work on a coffee plantation on the slopes of an active volcano in the Guatemalan highlands. María has been promised in marriage to the plantation supervisor, but she longs to be with a worker who dreams of escaping to the United States. A series of decisions brings María, along with her mother Juana, to determinedly navigate through sexism, discrimination, and ultimately, heartbreak.
Horizons of Friendship, a charitable international development organization based in Cobourg working to end poverty and injustice in Central America and Mexico, is proud to host this screening at The Loft, and invites viewers to a brief discussion after the film. The discussion will explore the recurring issues Indigenous Maya women and girls face in Guatemala - and what Horizons is doing to break that cycle. Proceeds raised will go towards supporting Horizons’ current maternal, newborn and child health project in Totonicapán, Guatemala.
Want to make this unique occasion a night out? Arrive at 5:00pm at Craft Food House, directly downstairs from The Loft, for a special Latin American-themed menu (sold separately, or you can choose to come for the film only). Doors open for the screening at 6:30pm. Limited seats available (60 seats).