The human story video "Chinamperos maintaining ancestral farming practices, Mexico City", directed by Rodrigo Gardón Gal for UNU-EHS’s Interconnected Disaster Risks 2025 has received the Audience Award at the Rural FilmFest in Spain.
The Rural FilmFest is an international film festival that showcases a current and diverse selection of short and feature-length films related to rural life, the environment, sustainability, and natural and cultural resources. With entries from across the globe, the festival brings attention to pressing global issues through storytelling rooted in local contexts.
The film about the Chinamperos of Mexico highlights the struggle and resilience of chinampa farmers in Xochimilco, Mexico City, as they work to preserve a centuries-old, UNESCO-recognized agricultural system. The story explores the growing threats these traditional farmers face, from urban encroachment and pollution to the impacts of climate change. Through the voices of various generations, the film underscores the critical importance of safeguarding ancestral knowledge and sustainable land-use practices.
“The farmers of Xochimilco are an example of how practices from our ancestors still hold great value today. But we risk losing such ancestral knowledge when today’s decisions disregard the impact on those who come after us. When we see ourselves as a link in a long chain of generations passing on knowledge, as the chinamperos do, we can create opportunities for future generations, rather than destroying them,” says Liliana Narvaez, who attended the film festival on behalf of the Interconnected Disaster Risks team and UNU-EHS.
The Audience Award reflects the powerful connection viewers felt with the Chinamperos' story, which embodies an emotional and timely reminder of the interconnectedness between cultural heritage and environmental resilience.
Please find the full video here. More information about the latest Interconnected Disaster Risks report is available here.
