Helena de Sarayaku w/ Q&A from filmmaker + Report back from the Amazon

Helena from Sarayaku traces the Sarayaku Kichwa people’s struggle to protect their lives, cultures and their territories from oil extraction in the period 2002 to 2021. It is both an anthropological study conducted by indigenous people for indigenous people, and for the world, and a vehicle to demonstrate the contribution of indigenous peoples to protecting the planet.

Helena’s elders encourage her in her quest to convey the indigenous message to the urban citizens of the world that their lives have to change for the protection of all of us. “Take these voices to other countries so they will listen, speak this message in their language when you get there.”

“We defend our territory so the great destroyers of the ​E​arth do not come,” explains one of the elders. Thanks to the struggle of the Sarayaku, “everything that our elders left us is intact,” but “others lost their cultures, and they will never get them back…[the companies] will build the road, the rainforest will be destroyed. They will contaminate the rivers. The world is coming to an end as our ancestors predicted… they destroy it without being aware of it. We cannot go on like this.”

Welcome to The 15th Annual Fist Up Film Festival!
We believe watching a good film can change your life…
We believe some films are made to be discussed…

The Fist Up Film Festival presents films that are intended to create impact, inspire discussion and foster understanding. By placing emphasis on the connected experiences between global and local communities, The Fist Up Film Festival creates visual parallels between people’s lived experiences and stories from around the world.

Join us October 4-14th in the Bay Area, California. We believe that Social Justice films don't have to make the audience feel horrible about the state of the world. We focus on uplifting stories that show our power!

For 15 years our festival has been free for filmmakers to apply and free / donation for our community to attend. When you make a donation on this website you are not garanteed a seat. It is first come first serve. So show up early!

Host or Publisher The 15th Annual Fist Up Film Festival