Mãos à Terra

Movie Screening + Talk with Sérgio Guidoux the Director

Movie starts at 19:00

Entrance on donation

For 35 years, an ecologist farmers’ market has connected urban dwellers with those who grow their food. This pioneering movement brings together farming families, urban naturalists, progressive clergy, and environmentalists fighting against conventional agricultural models and cultivating a healthy alternative for the future of food in cities.

The documentary “Hands to the Earth” explores various layers of the environmental struggle in southern Brazil through the voices and stories of the first ecological agriculture market in Latin America – the Ecological Farmers’ Market, which has been held every Saturday since 1989 in Porto Alegre.

Through images and testimonials captured over 4 years, both in rural and urban settings, combined with extensive historical archive material, the film sheds light on the agents leading the battle for health, from farm to table.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

Mãos à Terra (Hands to the Earth) is more than just a film; it is the culmination of a seven-year journey, a labor of love that began in 2018, with our small team of filmmakers documenting and researching the lives and story of the people that produce our food sustainably. From the very start, I knew this story was too important not to tell—not just for Brazil, but for anyone concerned about the future of food, agriculture, and the environment.

Over these seven years, we have documented an extraordinary tapestry of lives intertwined with the land. We’ve collected and recovered rare footage on VHS, preserving moments that have since become history. These images bear witness to the resilience of farmers, the strength of grassroots movements, and the quiet battles fought by those who believe in a sustainable future. But as we worked to tell this story, life threw us curveballs. The pandemic forced us to pause, reevaluate, and find new ways to connect with our subjects. And then came the 2024 floods — a natural disaster of unprecedented scale in Brazil, mirroring the environmental crises we had been documenting on screen.

These events reminded me that the issues we were exploring—climate change, systemic inequality, and the resilience of communities—are not abstract concepts but lived realities. The floods, amplified by the devastation of the rivers’ riparian forests by monoculture and corporate agriculture, underscored the urgency of our message. They connected directly to the struggles of the farmers in our film, turning their stories into a universal metaphor for survival and hope.

This journey has taught me that storytelling is not just about capturing moments but about bearing witness—to the beauty of the land, the strength of its people, and the fragility of systems we often take for granted. Mãos à Terra is a testament to the power of persistence. It’s a film born out of patience, curiosity, and respect for those who have dedicated their lives to preserving the earth while producing our food.

I believe this story will resonate with audiences everywhere because it speaks to our shared humanity. It’s a reminder that change is possible, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Through the voices of farmers and environmentalists, ordinary people fighting for a better future, Mãos à Terra offers not just a diagnosis of our broken systems but a prescription for healing—one rooted in community, justice, and hope.

This film has grown with me over these seven years, shaped by challenges and enriched by unexpected gifts. I am confident that it will inspire people everywhere to see the land, their food, and each other in a new light. After all, the fight for sustainability and equity is not just about the future—it’s about our present moment, and the choices we make today to secure tomorrow.