Get curated editors’ picks, peeks behind the scenes, film recommendations and more.
In his short documentary El Bastón, the Colombian American filmmaker Nemo Allen retraces the footsteps of his late mother, the documentary filmmaker and activist María Victoria Maldonado, as he attempts to complete a work she was unable to finish before her death in 2016. Revisiting family VHS tapes and footage from the project, Allen recalls her dedication to telling the story of the Indigenous Nasa people of southwestern Colombia, who have long been subjected to violence and persecution from clashing state and guerrilla forces in the region. To finish her work, Allen travels to Colombia himself. There, the Nasa, still facing external threats, have formed a security force called the Guardia Indígena. Wielding only symbolic batons in place of arms, this volunteer group attempts to protect the community and its territory from the region’s long-simmering violence. As Allen faces dangers that echo those his mother faced years ago, he finds himself similarly inspired by the spirit and resilience of its people.
Director: Nemo Allen
video
Human rights and justice
When a burial for slave trade victims is unearthed, a small island faces a reckoning
29 minutes
video
Ecology and environmental sciences
GPS tracking reveals stunning insights into the patterns of migratory birds
6 minutes
video
Human rights and justice
Can providing humanitarian aid be illegal? A troubling case from the US-Mexico border
17 minutes
video
Space exploration
The rarely told story of the fruit flies, primates and canines that preceded us in space
12 minutes
video
Film and visual culture
A lush animated opus evokes the frenzied pace of modern life
4 minutes
video
Family life
The precious family keepsakes that hold meaning for generations
10 minutes
video
Archaeology
What did the first people who entered Tutankhamun’s tomb see?
5 minutes
video
Information and communication
Coverage of the ‘balloon boy’ hoax forms a withering indictment of for-profit news
17 minutes
video
Childhood and adolescence
Marmar is living through a devastating war – but she’d rather tell you about her new dress
8 minutes