Chihiro Geuzebroek

Documentary Filmmaker and Environmental Activist

Friday 13th November in EEG185

University of Worcester St John’s Campus

Screening of Radical Friends at 11.45

Presentation + Q&A 1.15

Chihiro will talk about Film making, activism and spritual environmentalism.

Amongst all the documentaries dealing with environmental activism, director Chihiro Geuzebroek has hit upon a winning formula to detail something that's so often rendered with the sledgehammer of didacticism. First of all, she's the subject of the film, a personal journey undertaken by a cute, plucky "little Dutch girl" (of Bolivian heritage) which, frankly, goes a long way to rendering a picture that's not merely palatable, but includes a wealth of information in an agreeable, entertaining fashion. (Greg Klymkiw) --- REVIEW FILM CORNER [CANADA]

Radical Friends could easily have been a self-indulgent work were it not for Geuzebroek’s extreme earnestness and deep respect for Bolivia’s culture and its activists. With the help of endearing animations and a relaxed interview style, the filmmaker has created a unique film that is both informative and emotional. (Elena Lowe) --- REVIEW DORKSHELF [CANADA]

Chihiro Geuzebroek (1983 Amsterdam) first dived into filmproduction at the NFTA Film Academy production course (2003-2004). Afterwards she completed her BA Media and Culture at the University of Amsterdam (2005-2009). Afterwards she worked as Production leader Innovation & New Media for the NPO (Dutch Public Broadcast). After completing a few short items for the Buddhist Broadcast she decided to produce the feature film Radical Friends. With 42 days of shooting, filming in Bolivia, Denmark, France and the Netherlands, featuring the Bolivian president Evo Morales and a cameo from the famous hoax activists The Yes Men and DIY distribution she represents a unique voice of bridging the gap between Eurocentric climate change discourse and indigenous struggle.

Growing up in a time of imminent runaway climate change and planet wrecking Chihiro Geuzebroek entered the field of media studies with the ambition to restory & restore the perspective on what it means to be alive on earth. RADICAL FRIENDS is an activist coming of age story exploring her personal journey through Bolivia yearning to reconnect with the Bolivian philosophy of ‘Living Well’ with each other instead of our current paradigm of Living Better at the expense of the rest.

Awards:

JURY AWARD – BEST BOLIVIAN FEATURE

International Filmfestival for Human Rights, Bolivia 2014

Festivals:

International Filmfestival for Human Rights, Sucre, BO 2014

SURrealidades Filmfestival, Bogota, COL 2014

World Cinema Filmfestival, Amsterdam NL 2014

Planet in Focus, Toronto CAN 2014

Diverse grassroots & educational screenings in Cuba, Mexico, US, UK, Belgium, Sweden.

Education:

In 2015 ms Geuzebroek has given keynotes and introduction classes at the University of Wageningen (NL), the Malmo Latin School (SWE) on sharpening perspectives on Climate Justice and decolonizing media discourse. Ms Geuzebroek regularly speaks on panels such as the panel of The American Book Center (Voices of the Earth) in Amsterdam or as guest speaker Circles for Change (Ghent, Belgium). Before teaching on Climate Justice & media framing of cases of ‘fight-back’, she regularly gave introduction courses on Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism.