I am a huge documentary geek and literally LOVE them. So when I came across Skylight Pictures and Pamela Yates I was obviously struct, as she combines my two loves sufficiently. Many of you may not know about the situation in Guatemala at the moment, however now I assume there will be an atmosphere of liberty and excitement, due to the fact that General Efrain Rios Montt has just been convicted of Genocide by a Guatemalan court, the first trial of its kind where international courts have not had to intervene. It was Pamela Yates who helped to put him there. her documentary footage shot in the peek of assassinations, 1983-84, helped to establish a chain of command, demolishing Rios Montt's defense.
Rios Montt on the final day of his trial
Her work and documentaries portray a realistic representation of the troubles Guatemala had, with time spent equally between the Guerrillas and the Military. When the Mountains Tremble was banned from Guatemala for 20 years, although was watched clandestinely by many, until Pamela screened the film which got the ball rolling for Rios Montts trial. Pamela's next documentary focusing on the lead up to the trial and the various people, Granito: How to Nail a Dictator, was what was used in the trial in order to convict him.
A truely inspiratonal woman and documentary activist, proving what can be done with the use of media, so that change and justice for these countries is served.
WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY BELOW!
http://www.pbs.org/pov/granito/full.php#.UY-BrLWHuSq
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