About Luis Felipe Fernández-Salvador y Campodónico
Luis Felipe Fernández-Salvador y Campodónico (Guayaquil, Ecuador, February 21, 1982) is an Italian-Ecuadorian explorer, filmmaker and activist for Indigenous’ Women rights.
His creative vision
Fernández-Salvador y Campodónico has dedicated his career to understanding and preserving the anthropological aspects of ancestral structures threatened by corporate globalisation. With a deep appreciation for the cultural and ecological significance of the Amazon and Andes regions, Luis Felipe uses his films to amplify the voices of marginalised communities and inspire positive social change.
Through his work, Luis Felipe seeks to highlight the mystery and natural beauty of Ecuador’s “four worlds”: the Andes, the Amazon, the Pacific Coast, and the Galapagos. His documentaries serve as powerful tools for social transformation, bridging the gap between public institutions and indigenous communities. By bringing these pressing issues to the table, Luis Felipe aims to foster dialogue, collaboration, and a better understanding of the challenges faced by indigenous peoples in the face of extractive industries and corporate globalisation.
Cultural management and activism lie at the core of Luis Felipe’s work. He emphasises the importance of preserving indigenous cultures and empowering communities to protect their rights and territories. By showcasing the cultural richness of indigenous societies, he advocates for the protection of ancestral cultures and their integral role in shaping a more inclusive and diverse world.
Fernández-Salvador has spent most of his career exploring the Amazon and the Andes. These regions hold immense cultural and ecological significance, and his firsthand experiences have shaped his deep understanding and appreciation of their complexity. Immersing himself in these environments has allowed him to capture authentic stories and portray the unique challenges faced by indigenous communities.
Filmmaking and storytelling to give voice to the voiceless and ignite social change
Fernández-Salvador’s approach to filmmaking goes beyond mere documentation. He believes in the power of cinema as an agent for change, and actively seeks to bridge the gap between decision-makers and indigenous communities through his films. By bringing these issues to the table, he aims to create a platform for dialogue and collaboration to foster a better understanding and response to the challenges and threats that extractive industries and corporate globalisation pose on indigenous peoples.
One notable example of Fernández-Salvador’s impact is his involvement in the Canadian documentary “Highway of Tears (2015)”. This documentary shed light on the high rates of violence and disappearances of indigenous women along the British Columbia Highway 16, also known as Highway of Tears, a 724-kilometer stretch of road which had become infamous for the dozens of women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered in its vicinity.
By collaborating on this project, he aimed to create a political impact for the protection of Canadian indigenous women, children and the family members of victims of the so-called “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women” movement.
Initially ignored by public authorities, this documentary and the subsequent grassroots movement sparked significant political changes, including reforms to Canada’s constitution and increased legal protections for indigenous women and children. This remarkable success serves as a testament to Fernández-Salvador’s unwavering dedication to utilising the medium of cinema as a powerful tool for social and political change.
His work
His foray into the world of cinema came with the biographical work El cazador (2013), a short film that was part of the Official Selection at the Short Film Corner in Cannes. In 2015 he served as Executive Producer of the documentary Highway of Tears made in association with Human Rights Watch, which won the Malibu Film Festival. At the end of that same year, he finished the Fantastic Realism manifesto, a proposal for a new cinematographic genre whose main objective is to record reality in cinema from new perspectives.
His proof of concept is the 2019 film A Son of Man, which he directed, produced, and acted in. The film premiered at the Shanghai International Film Festival and was selected to officially represent Ecuador in the Best Foreign Film category at the 91st Academy Awards (Oscar Awards).
It was also nominated at important festivals in North America and Europe, obtaining numerous awards, including the Grand Prix at the Rhode lsland Festival (USA) and the Best Documentary Award at the Terra di Siena Film Festival.
The vision behind “Waorani: Guardias of the Amazon”
In his latest documentary, “Waorani: Guardians of the Amazon”, co-authored with Luisana Carcelén, Luis Felipe focuses on the Waorani community in Ecuador. While the film portrays the struggles and resilience of Waorani women, it also brings to the forefront the challenges faced by their children. These issues arise from the detrimental effects of extractive industries and the violence against women and children within the Waorani community. Through this documentary, Fernández-Salvador aims to raise awareness about how linked these problems are and advocate for intersectional solutions that bring different realities together, focusing on the capacity of Waorani communities.
The documentary received the award “Best Environmental Documentary” at the ORA! FEST International film festival in Apulia in 2023.
