Co-presented with the National Museum of the American Indian, the Embassy of Mexico and the Mexican Cultural Institute <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/15adb1175f5fad30f26445de4148394b.png" style="display: block; margin: auto;">

Exposes the deadly effects of regularly used agrochemicals -- currently legal in countries like Mexico and the United States -- on millions of bees. The documentary explores how the planting of monocultures threatens the health and environment of Mayan beekeeping communities in southeastern Mexico and portrays their fight to protect their land from massive deforestation, groundwater table pollution and climate change.

What Happened to the Bees?

Explores how the planting of monocultures threatens the health and environment of Mayan beekeeping communities in southeastern Mexico and portrays their fight to protect their land from massive deforestation, groundwater table pollution and climate change.

Pre-recorded conversation with the co-directors Adriana Otero and Robin Canul, moderated by Cynthia Benitez (Film Programmer, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in New York). Adriana Otero is a filmmaker, she has a Master’s Degree in Production and Teaching of Visual Arts and is a former student of Ambulante Beyond, where she directs ‘The Value of the Land’ and produces ‘PAAX’. In 2018 she won the National Competition for Short Films by Regions of the Mexican Institute of Cinematography (IMCINE) with Snake’s Mouth and in 2019 premieres her debut film What happened to the bees? that produces and co-directs. She is currently director of the production and distribution company ABEJAS CINE.&nbsp; Robin Canul is a professional photographer and journalist. In his work as a photojournalist and audiovisual producer he has published for national newspaper in Mexico and in international media such as EFE, DW, AJ +, Brut, Libération de France, Mongabay, Sveriges Radio and International Amnesty. He currently coordinates Áurea Audiovisual with which he presented the film La Ilusión. He also collaborated in the documentary What Happened to the bees? (2019) as co-director and photographer. Cindy Benitez is a film curator specializing in hemispheric Indigenous film and promotion for over 15 years. She currently manages the Film &amp; Media Program at the Smithsonian National Museum of American Indian (NMAI) in NYC. She curates and runs NMAI's annual Native Cinema Showcase, hosts film and conversation series and curates international film showcases. She has worked as a publicist for various film festivals and Native media organizations, including the American Indian Film Institute, the Native Forum and World Competition sections of theSundance Film Festival, and the NMAI's Native American Film + Video Festival. She is a regular contributor to American Indian Magazine and Smithsonian.com and advises and serves on numerous boards such as Cine Las Americas and The Americas Film Festival New York. A graduate from Barry University, Cindy holds a B.A. in Public Relations and a M.S. in Media Studies at CUNY Brooklyn College. Raised in New York and South Florida she continues to maintains ties to her family homeland of Paraguay.

Filmmaker Discussion: Adriana Otero & Robin Canul

Moderated by Cynthia Benitez (Film Programmer, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in New York)

What Happened to the Bees? 

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Enjoy free shorts programs all summer long featuring Selections from our March 2021 Festival!

The DC Environmental Film Festival is the world’s premier showcase of environmentally themed films. Since 1993 our mission has been to celebrate Earth and inspire understanding and stewardship of the environment through the power of film.

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