Festivals: Jersey Human Rights FF 09, Sebastopol Documentary FF09, International Latino Film Festival, San Francisco Bay Area 08, Documenta, Quito, Ecuador Nov 08, San Francisco Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts VideoFest 08, San Diego Asian FF 08 , DC Asian Pacific American FF 08, Asian American International FF 08, Los Angeles Asian Pacific FF 08, Chicago Asian American Showcase 08, Cine Las Americas International FF, Austin, USA 08, New Orleans International Human Rights FF 08, San Francisco International Asian American FF 08
Awards: 1st Place, “Best of the VideoFest”, San Francisco Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts VideoFest 08, “Best Documentary”, DC Asian Pacific American FF 2008
Original Language: Spanish, English, Quechua, Japanese

Against the Grain

USA & Perú / 2008 / Ann Kaneko / 65 mins

In 1989, Alfredo Márquez used an image of Mao in an artwork.He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. For every artist, the need to create and be heard is as basic as food and shelter. But what happens when you live in a country where the state clamps down on free thinkers, forcing artists to censure themselves? Four Peruvian visual artists defy this tyranny and ignite change.