Project Atitlán.

Director's Statement:

Hi, my name is Jasper Soloff and I am the Director of the documentary, Atitlán: Echoes of the Lake. As a director, my passion has always been bringing marginalized voices into the mainstream media. After visiting Lake Atitlán on an investigative trip, I realized that there is serious tension and a lack of awareness between the mainstream and the native population.

Indigenous people use the lake for basic needs like bathing and fishing. Lake Atitlán, their home and source of income and water for over 600 years, is dying. Tourists use the lake to cliff jump and go on booze cruises. Little do they know, the lake is polluted with trash, pesticides, and raw untreated sewage, making it extremely dangerous to swim in.

The pollution in the lake affects the indigenous community more than anyone, but the biggest organization trying to help them with industrialist solutions directly opposes their core beliefs.

In bringing the cultural and environmental issues in Lake Atitlán into the spotlight, I hope to give voice to this vibrant indigenous community, spread awareness about ethical tourism, and take the first steps in saving the lake.

By donating to this project you will be funding transportation, accommodation, food, and equipment for me and my wonderful crew to be able to tell this pressing story.

Thank you so much for supporting Atitlán: Echoes of the Lake!

Jasper

Atitlan Pitch Deck

Producer/Writer's Statement:

Hi! My name is Sarah Sutton, and I am so excited to be writing and producing my first feature length documentary, Atitlán: Echoes of the Lake. My goal as a filmmaker is to create empathy for and spread awareness about communities whose voices are too often ignored. This project is deeply meaningful to me as it is about giving a platform to a marginalized community.

During our initial trip to Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, Jasper and I were struck by its beauty and the vibrant local culture, but we couldn’t ignore the environmental degradation and its impact on the indigenous community, who have called this place home for centuries.

Our goal is to amplify the voices of the locals and shine a light on the reckless tourism in the area, while exploring solutions for its preservation. By working closely with the indigenous community and local environmentalists, we aim to tell the whole story of the lake and the different paths to its protection.

The first step in our production process is to conduct research in Lake Atitlán, furthering our connections with local environmentalists and members of the indigenous community. At the same time, we will capture footage for a trailer for the film with our talented director of photography, Alberto Mojica. By donating, you are supporting our crew’s transportation, accommodation, food, and equipment, making it possible for us to conduct research and create a trailer about this pressing topic.

We deeply appreciate every donor as you are the reason that we are able to make this documentary.

Thank you,

Sarah

Film Synopsis:

"Atitlán: Echoes of the Lake'' delves into the heart of Guatemala's Atitlán region, where environmental degradation clashes with the vibrant indigenous culture. It explores the precarious balance between tradition and modernity, spotlighting the plight of the indigenous communities whose lives are intertwined with the fate of Lake Atitlán.

The documentary opens on Maro, a young Guatemalan woman whose daily life revolves around the lake. Maro represents a new generation grappling with the profound impact of tourism and pollution on their ancestral home.

As Maro guides us through the villages surrounding lake Atitlán, we are introduced to the diverse stakeholders in the struggle for the lake's survival. The indigenous Mayan community, whose connection to the lake spans centuries, shares poignant accounts of its decline. Once a source of sustenance and spirituality, the lake now teeters on the brink of collapse, its waters tainted by pollution and dwindling fish stocks.

The documentary juxtaposes the indigenous perspective with the revelry of tourists who flock to Atitlán's shores seeking voyeuristic adventures and escape. Scenes of partygoers indulging in hedonistic excess contrast sharply with the daily rituals of the indigenous population, who continue to rely on the lake for basic necessities despite its degradation.

As tensions mount between traditional values and commercial interests, the documentary explores the complex web of social and environmental challenges facing the region. Against the backdrop of the beautiful volcanic mountains and deceptively welcoming lake, a scientific perspective will elaborate on the severe health and cultural ramifications that will ensue if serious and proactive efforts are not made, raising the stakes.

The film then delves into the divergent paths taken by current initiatives seeking to address the lake's decline. On one front, we witness the efforts of Guatemalan-led projects aimed at harnessing scientific techniques to restore clean water to Atitlán's villages. While these efforts offer a glimmer of hope, they are met with fierce opposition from the indigenous community, who fear the privatization of their natural resources.

The documentary follows the indigenous community's commitment to saving the lake along with their steadfast resistance to external interventions, rooted in a deep-seated commitment to preserving their cultural heritage and ancestral lands. As tensions escalate between competing visions for the lake's future, "Atitlán: Echoes of the Lake" navigates the complex terrain of reconciliation and resilience.

As the documentary draws to a close it will face difficult and unpredictable questions: which version of Lake Atitlán will prevail? Will the forces of privatization and tourism eclipse the indigenous community's ancestral connection to the land, or will a path of reconciliation and collaboration pave the way for a sustainable future?

The documentary will leave viewers grappling with these weighty questions, challenging us to confront the complex intersection of environmental activism, cultural preservation, and economic development. In the twilight hours, as the waters of Lake Atitlán shimmer with possibility, the documentary offers a poignant reminder of the profound responsibility we bear to protect our planet's most precious resources—for ourselves, for future generations, and for the timeless echoes of Atitlán.