Video/Film
The Mujeres de Manzo documentary film profiles the work of four longtime Chicana feminist activists at the forefront of immigration rights organizing here in Southern Arizona: Isabel Garcia, Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith, Guadalupe Castillo, and Margo Cowan.
Garcia, Rubio-Goldsmith, Castillo and Cowen first worked together in the early 1970s on the Manzo Area Council, a war on poverty program begun by President Johnson, and became known as Las Mujeres de Manzo. In the '80s the group was the lone voice identifying and opposing the militarization of the border. They went on to shape many other humanitarian relief groups including Coalición de Derechos Humanos and No More Deaths, and to be actively involved in the Sanctuary Movement. Their collective efforts have given rise to many of the international human rights activities in our region and beyond as their work has had national and international implications.
This is an urgent moment to make a film on the long history of border activism, sanctuary, detention/deportation, and human rights.
Directors: Quad Productions
Producers: Michelle Téllez, Ana Cornide, Trayce Peterson
https://mujeresdemanzo.com/
Singing My Way To Freedom tells the story of Ramon “Chunky” Sanchez a southern California musician, community organizer and cultural worker – from his rural, farm worker origins to the formation of his community-based musical group, from his activist role in the Chicano movement to his influence on the folk music scene in California and beyond. This 90-minute film examines how Sanchez’s personal development as a musician and movement figure is interwoven with the broader history of the Chicano community, from the 1960’s right through to today’s immigrant rights’ protests. This film is both a documentary biography and an exploration of the cultural and political history of California and the Southwest in the second half of the 20th century. I've been working as an advisor to the film with filmmaker Paul Espinosa since 2012. Film was released in 2018 and has been screened multiple times and has won several awards and nominations.
Through interviews and documentary footage, Workers on the Rise follows the history and work of the Arizona Worker Rights Center, a local non-profit organization that tracks labor rights violations, challenges abusive employers, promotes worker friendly legislation and develops worker leadership and community in Phoenix.
(In Spanish and English.) Full Version
film edited by Justine Garcia and directed by Michelle Téllez (@Ollin2012).
Centro Social Seco introduces viewers to an autonomous social, cultural, and political center in Madrid, Spain. (In Spanish with no subtitles.)
by Michelle Téllez (@Ollin2001).
Resistencia y Amor documents the Cosme Damian/Mumia Abul Jamal Caravan from Tijuana/San Diego meeting up with the 2001 Zapatista caravan arriving to Mexico City. (In Spanish and English.)
by Michelle Téllez (@Ollin2001).