Maxima
A multi-billion-dollar corporation meets their match in a fearless Indigenous woman who remains uncowed after years of violent intimidation.
Interview with Director/Producer Claudia Sparrow
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I came across the story of an extraordinary woman and I couldn't stay silent. I first heard of activist Máxima Acuña on 2016, shortly after she won the Goldman Environmental Prize. Her story shook me to my core, and I couldn’t stop thinking about her and her fight for justice, so I decided to do what I could to give her voice a larger platform.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
MAXIMA represents the fight that environmental activists face all over the world. These people are heroes who are fighting for resources that we all need to survive. And yet, we don’t hear about them and the issues they are risking their lives for on mainstream media. Whether we know it or not, we all play a major role in it.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
By telling the personal journey of activist Máxima Acuña, we show how a land dispute quickly turns into a landmark case of human rights abuse. Throughout Máxima’s fight for justice, we reveal the mechanics of how a transnational corporation manages to get away with human rights and environmental crimes, The World Bank role in this, and the resilience of one woman who refuses to back down.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
We never really had a script, the main goal was always to document Máxima’s journey and tell her side of the story. That said, we never expected to be able to cover as much of her legal fight as we did since that just happened to unfold shortly after we started filming her story.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The positive feedback has been overwhelming so far and audiences seem to really connect with Máxima’s story and love the film. In addition to winning the Hot Docs Audience Award, MAXIMA has continued to gather audience and critical praise, as well as accolades in the festival circuit both in the U.S and internationally. It currently has a 90% rotten tomatoes score. We could not have asked for a better response for the film.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The overwhelmingly positive response did surprise me because a large portion of the film takes place in a remote location, and I had no idea if audiences were going to connect with Máxima’s story and support her fight for justice. The film also addresses controversial themes so hearing how much people were moved by the film and inspired by Máxima was the most rewarding feeling in the world.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The film is going to have its theatrical and digital release on January 7th and January 11th respectively, so we would like to reach the largest audience possible.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We welcome anyone who want to join us in our efforts to create real impact so that could be anyone from individuals to non-profits and organizations.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We would love for MAXIMA to serve as a much-needed reminder that we the people have the power to make a difference. We want to reach a global audience and offer them the opportunity to engage and contribute in different ways to protect human rights, the environment, support clean gold and hold corporations accountable for their actions.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Is gold worth its human and environmental cost?
Would you like to add anything else?
To learn more about the film and support Máxima’s fight, please visit: www.standwithmaxima.com
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Fiction and documentary films as well as a TV series.
Interview: January 2022
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Maxima
Length:
1:27:56
Director
Born and raised in Lima, CLAUDIA is an Emmy-award-winning filmmaker who has been recognized as one of the ten most prominent directors in Peru. Prior to MAXIMA, she wrote and directed I REMEMBER YOU which is available on all major digital platforms. CLAUDIA is the recipient of the Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow Award for directing her film EL AMERICANO.
Producer
Under his Los Angeles-based production company, TrustFall Films, RYAN is producing three feature length documentaries, and a biopic based on the largest black orphanage in US history. RYAN SCHWARTZ’s first feature as writer/director, Summer of 8, was acquired by FilmBuff in 2016 and released theatrically by MGM/Orion. Starring Matt Shively (The Real O’Neals) and Shelley Hennig (Teen Wolf), Summer of 8 was named one of the top ten films of 2016.
Key cast:
Máxima Acuña (activist), Mirtha Vásquez (Máxima Acuña's lawyer), Maryum Jordan (Earth Rights International lawyer), Jacqueline Fowks (El País newspaper journalist)
Looking for:
Social media
https://www.facebook.com/standwithmaxima
https://twitter.com/standwithmaxima
https://www.instagram.com/standwithmaxima
Hashtags used:
#standwithmaxima
More info:
Apple TV - January 11th, 2022
Google Play - January 11th, 2022
TubiTV - January 11th, 2022