Looking For Carmen
Looking For Carmen explores a violent episode in recent Peruvian history: the civil war instigated by the Peruvian communist guerilla group, The Shining Path, between 1980 and 2000. Abimael Guzman, a philosophy professor considered the “Fourth Sword of Communism” after Marx, Lenin and Mao, founded The Shining Path in the late 60’s in response to the break-up of the Soviet and the Chinese Communist Parties. The Shining Path espoused the Maoist doctrine and fostered armed conflict as the only strategy for changing Peru’s social and political situation. The group’s tactics were widely condemned for their brutality against peasants, trade union organizers, popularly elected officials, and the general civilian population.

In the early 90’s Peru’s newly elected controversial President Alberto Fujimori established an authoritarian regime, closed the Peruvian Parliament, suspended the Constitution and granted the military unlimited power to arrest suspected Shining Path members and have them tried by a secret military court. The government organized more than 7000 native communities in the Andean Highlands into groups known as “rondas campesinas” (“peasants patrol”). International Human Rights Organizations accused the Fujimori government and the Peruvian Armed Forces of engaging in widespread human rights abuses as a tactic to defeat The Shining Path. More than 69,000 people died or disappeared as a result of the armed conflict.

After the collapse of the Fujimori government in 2000, the new interim government established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate the conflict. Looking for Carmen examines the legal, historical, and human rights context of the civil war by interlinking multiple stories, among them those of Carmen, a member of the Shining Path, Angelica Mendoza de Ascarza, an 81 year old mother, whose son disappeared during that period, Ernesto Jimenez, a photo journalist who worked in the emergency zone during the conflict, and Tomas Livias, one of the few survivors.

Screenings

Northumberland Hispanic Film Festival Cobourg, Canada 2021
MOCA: Museo Online de Cine Autobiografico Vigo, Spain, 2020
TRANSCINEMA, Festival Internacional de Cine Lima, Peru, 2017
Pleasure Dome, Fall Program Toronto, Canada, 2016
San Marcos University Lima, Peru, 2015

Credits

Assembly
A short film that illustrates the struggle of the working class in Peru, in relation to the global workers movement. The grainy images, canted shots, still images and Russian montages offer a captivating five minutes of social reality in the fight against Neoliberalism.

This film was commissioned by the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) with the goal to capture the spirit of Super 8 and celebrate LIFT’s 30th anniversary.

Screenings

TRANSCINEMA, Festival Internacional de Cine Lima, Peru, 2017
Pleasure Dome, Fall Program Toronto, Canada, 2016
30 x 30: Three Nights of Films for 30 Years of Filmmaking Jackman Hall, AGO, Toronto, 2012

Technical Details

Experimental Documentary / 2012
Runtime: 5 min
Original Format: Super 8, Still Photo
Exhibition Format: 16mm
B&W, 4:3, Silent

Tale of Winter
focuses on the societal indifference towards homeless people. One the of the biggest challenges of ours times is the lack of empathy towards the underprivileged, the poor, the deranged: the people who live on the margins of the society but who are often treated as if they are invisible, ignorable or as if they are nuisances. With Tale of Winter, I would like to draw attention to how much and how easily we disregard that which is right in front of us, that which call for our sensitivity and understanding.

Screenings

AluCine Film Festival Toronto, Canada, 2009
Reelkids Film Festival Peterborough, Canada, 2009

Technical Details

Fiction / 2008
Runtime: 6 min
Original Format: 35mm
Exhibition Format: Digital
Colour, 16:9, Stereo

3 x 16
These three short films, consist of perceptive depictions of a public square in Lima, the view from his mother’s rooftop, and work at the Toronto film festival revision department. The filmmaker used 16 mm as documentary format. Each film in this series is almost three minutes long, which is the length of one roll of 16 mm film. The entire film uses in camera editing, therefore all the editing decisions were made on location.

Awards

Telelatino Film Prize
AluCine Film Festival, Toronto, 2007

Screenings

TRANSCINEMA, Festival Internacional de Cine Lima, Peru, 2017
Pleasure Dome, Fall Program Toronto, Canada, 2016
$100 Film Festival Calgary, Alberta, 2009
AluCine Film Festival Toronto, Canada, 2007
The Independents, Cinematheque Ontario Toronto, Canada, 2007

Technical Details

Documentary / 2007
Runtime: 10 min
Original Format: 16mm
Exhibition Format: 16mm
B&W, 4:3, Stereo

Maricones (Faggots)
Set in the marginal neighbourhood of Corongo and the seigniorial cobblestone streets of Lima, Peru, Maricones unveils the many contradictions and advances of a sexual revolution that is sweeping the world at the dawn of the XXI century.

The documentary MARICONES (Faggots) was inspired by the contradictions and preconceived assumptions of a machista society. Director/Producer Marcos Arriaga challenges local beliefs by asking whether another world is possible.

He introduces us to Eusebio, 58, a gay man from the popular neighbourhood of Corongo where Arriaga grew up. A former male prostitute and cabaret dancer, Eusebio is a neighbourhood personality who supports his deceased brother’s two sons through catering gigs.

The second protagonist is Juan Carlos Ferrando, the son of one of Peru’s most famous television personalities. He studied film and television in Europe and at the BBC in London where he first discovered that it was OK to be gay. Currently a drag comic performer, he owns a successful theatre and is one of the organizers of Lima’s fledgling annual Pride Parade.

Awards

Best Documentary
II Asturies Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Spain, 2007
3rd place – Best Documentary
11th Annual Madrid International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

Screenings

Festival de Fortalezs de Cinema de Diversidad Sexual Brazil, 2007
II Asturies Gay-Lesbian Film Festival Spain, 2007
Outfest Peru, Centro Cultural Espana Lima, Peru, 2007
Body Politics in the Americas, Centro Cultural Recoleta Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2007
Rainbow Reels Queer Festival Waterloo, Ontario, 2006
Cinemarosa Spring Season 2006 Queens, NY, 2006
San Diego Latino Film Festival USA, 2006
Lisbon Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Portugal, 2006
XI Budapest – Hungary LGBT Film Festival Budapest, 2006
I International Film Festival of Sexual Diversity ‘Llamale H’ Montevideo, Uruguay, 2006
10th Gay & Lesbian Film Festival QUEERSICHT Bern, Switzerland, 2006
11th Festival International de Cine Lesbico de Madrid Spain, 2006
6th Alucine, Toronto Latino Film Festival Toronto, 2005
Inside Out, Toronto Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Toronto, 2005
Frameline 29, San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival San Francisco International, 2005
Fresno 16th Annual Reel Pride California, 2005
Barcelona International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Spain, 2005
Mix Brasil Brazil, 2005

Credits

Produced and Directed by Marcos Arriaga
Edited by a.e.hurtado
Production Manager and Location Sound by Jeff Sterne
Sound Design by Benito Amaro
Sound Mixing by Gordon Creelman
Camera by Marcos Arriaga
Produced with the Financial Assistance of: Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council

Technical Details

Documentary / 2005
Runtime: 52 min
Original Format: Super 8, 16mm, Digital
Exhibition Format: Beta SP, Digital
B&W and Colour, 4:3, Stereo

A Little Square Heaven
A documentary that explores the lives of gardeners from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds in Toronto community gardens. The gardeners are the basis for a look at multiculturalism in Toronto. Their values, relationship to the city and to each other are all expressed within the context of the community garden.

This documentary was produced as part of Arriaga’s thesis for the Graduate Program in the Department of Film at York University in Toronto.

Technical Details

Documentary / 2003
Runtime: 22 min
Original Format: 16mm, Mini DV
Exhibition Format: Betacam SP, Digital
B&W and Colour, 4:3, Stereo

Promised Land
An experimental documentary film, which mixes the personal and the political. It follows the story of my family in Peru, from the middle of the last century through to the present day. The story of my family is told from a personal point of view and also in relation to the political developments taking place throughout the Latin American continent. This film weaves together these various viewpoints, forming a unique perspective on memory, history and identity.

At the age of 27, Arriaga emigrated from his birthplace, the port of Callao, Peru, to Canada. Years later, from his adopted home in Toronto, he employs family photos, Super 8 film and archival footage to construct a visually evocative memory of his beloved family, his hopeful youth and the sweep of military dictatorship across Latin America that prompted so many to leave their home behind.

Awards

Honourable Mention
AluCine Film Festival, Toronto, 2002

Screenings

MOCA: Museo Online de Cine Autobiografico Vigo, Spain, 2020
TRANSCINEMA, Festival Internacional de Cine Lima, Peru, 2017
Museo De Arte Moderno Bogota, Colombia, 2004
50th Robert Flaherty Film Seminar Vassar College, NY, 2004
Optic Nerve Film & Video Festival Peterborough, Ontario, 2004
Argos Festival Brussels, Belgium, 2003
Ed Video Media Arts Centre Guelph, Ontario, 2003
Pleasure Dome Summer Toronto, 2003
$100 Film Festival Calgary, Alberta, 2003
The Independents, Cinematheque Ontario Toronto, 2003
Alucine, Toronto Latino Film Festival Toronto, 2002
Global Vision Edmonton, Alberta, 2002
Hot Docs, Canadian International Documentary Festival Toronto, 2002

Credits

Produced and Directed by Marcos Arriaga
Edited by Guillermo Marin, Lisa Hayes and Marcos Arriaga
Sound Mixing and Editing by Mike Filippov
Sound Design by Benito Amaro
Optical Printer and Titles by Guillermo Marin, Karen Young and Marcos Arriaga
Camera and Still Photography by Marcos Arriaga
Produced with the Financial Assistance of: Ontario Arts Council, National Film Board of Canada,
Toronto Arts Council, LIFT.

Technical Details

Experimental Documentary / 2002
Runtime: 21 min
Original Format: Super 8
Exhibition Format: Mini DV, Digital
B&W and Colour, 4:3, Stereo
Distributor: CFMDC

The Harris Project
Four filmmakers start out by developing a project that confronts Mike Harris’ Common Sense Revolution; but in the end, their documentary turns away from the political battle and begins to question the difficulties of making everything work within a constantly changing world.

Screenings

Harbourfront Centre, Ritmo y Color Latin American Art festival Toronto, 2002
$100 Film Festival Calgary, Alberta, 1999
One World Film Festival Ottawa, 1998
LIFT Salon Des Refuses Toronto, 1998
Images Festival Toronto, 1998

Technical Details

Documentary / 1998
Runtime: 15 min
Original Format: 16mm
Exhibition Format: 16mm, Digital
B&W and Colour, 4:3, Stereo

El Barrio
A colorful mosaic of the people of Toronto’s downtown core – one of the most culturally diverse areas in North America. Vivid images and dynamic editing capture the intense spirit of these groups and their festivities, eventually merging them into one glorious celebration.

Screenings

Harbourfront Centre, Ritmo y Color Latin American Art Festival Toronto, 2002
$100 Film Festival Calgary, Alberta, 1999
Champ Libre Montreal, 1999
Alley Cat Scramble Toronto, 1999
LIFT Ward Island Screening Toronto, 1998

Technical Details

Documentary / 1998
Runtime: 10 min
Original Format: Super 8, 16mm
Exhibition Format: 16mm, Digital
B&W and Colour, 4:3, Stereo
Distributor: CFMDC