Inspired by the poem “I Am Joaquin'' by Chicano poet Corky Gonzales, this unique film tells the story of a young boy named Cheo who, from the sights and smells of his abuela’s kitchen, takes a sweeping cinematic journey across the lands that are both his history and his future. He sees the gorges of the Grand Canyon, the antiquity of New Mexican acequias, the majesty of the Rockies, and the urban warmth of Downtown Los Angeles. On this journey, Cheo realizes he is formed by these places – but they need his help, as they are devastated by wildfires, pollution, climate change and disrepair. Cheo decides to raise his voice and take action to protect the environment for his familia and generations to come, as it is him and he is it.
“It’s an honor our film “I Am Cheo” is recognized in both of these film festivals,” said Maite Arce, HAF president and CEO. “We hope it brings awareness to how Latinos are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of climate change, inadequate planning and resources for emergency management, urban planning, forest management, and disaster relief and recovery programs. We must recognize the exclusion of communities but also recognize the contributions of these resilient communities to our country and take action to address these urgent matters.”
NWBIFF is a sister festival to the Docs Without Borders International Film Festival and the Depth of Field International Film Festival, a Film freeway “Top 100 Reviewed” festival. The film was selected for NWBIFF’s category – Narrative Short Film, centered on Animal, nature or environment.
The Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) includes world-class environmental films with representatives from local and national organizations. CEFF screens feature-length and short films by foreign, local, and young filmmakers. True to the spirit of Colorado, this event is supported and attended by people who value the natural world and share a passion for the power and beauty of film. CEFF virtually takes place February 12-21, 2021. Learn more about CEFF here: https://ceff.net/.