The Film
Justice for My Sister follows one Guatemalan woman during her three-year battle to hold her sister's killer accountable. She encounters many obstacles: a police record that is missing, a judge who is accused of killing his own wife, and witnesses who are too afraid to testify. In the end, Rebeca emerges as a leader in her community with a message for others: justice is possible.
A Letter From the Filmmaker
At its core, JUSTICE FOR MY SISTER is a David versus Goliath story. One woman takes on a giant system with all the odds stacked against her – and her resilience and power is unstoppable. Rebeca became a larger than figure in her community, and a reference for other women. The film has given a platform for Rebeca to share her story, and that in and of itself initiates a process of breaking the silence, leaving all internalized victim-blaming and guilt aside for viewers who have also experienced gender-based violence. Rebeca breaks the silence, and encourages others to do so as well.
The film shows that one individual can channel pain from a traumatic loss and use it as fuel for personal growth and communal healing. By the same token, the film’s extensive coverage of Rebeca and her family illustrates the long-term emotional toll that a violent crime of this nature has on them and on the entire community.
I have witnessed the inspiration generated in audiences upon viewing Rebeca’s unwavering determination to bring justice to light. Upon watching the film, I encourage you to question how you personally can contribute to diminish violence against women. What ways can your own personal beliefs about gender power dynamics shift in order to contribute to a culture that prohibits victim-blaming?
In sharing my story of the sexual abuse that I suffered during production of the film, several audience members have shared their stories of survival with me. When we share our stories, we set shame to the side, and truly embrace the fact that the abuse we experience was not our fault, but that of those who caused harm to us (our aggressors). Rebeca’s courage to speak out has encouraged me to speak out as well, and as we challenge the stigma that marks gender-based violence, we create a culture where others can as well. Please like us on Facebook, spread the word to your contacts, and host a screening in your community. The more people that see the film, the more impact it will have.
Viva la Mujer!
Kimberly Bautista
![rebeca and crosses.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f2b2eb7ea7a5b14c52cb196/1603847184681-OVMSW13B08JMR6ONVEFH/rebeca+and+crosses.jpg)
![corazon.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f2b2eb7ea7a5b14c52cb196/1603413374608-O5C0P4N62DHO6RACIFSH/corazon.jpg)
![rebeca on a mission1.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f2b2eb7ea7a5b14c52cb196/1603847230659-521E53IHBTUTI9EAHXAD/rebeca+on+a+mission1.jpg)
![155781_291533120979113_1735367922_n.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f2b2eb7ea7a5b14c52cb196/1603413358333-ML1NLSP67OFUHCONCK7V/155781_291533120979113_1735367922_n.jpg)
Justice for My Sister The Film.
A film about the unstoppable determination of one woman to see that her sister’s murder does not go unpunished.
An award-winning documentary, we've received the HBO-NALIP Documentary Filmmaker Award, Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Latino Independent Film Festival, and the Camera Justita Award at Movies That Matter Festival in The Netherlands. Here is how you can support our work:
Buy the Film.
Ideal for educational use in Women’s Studies, Latin American Studies, Human Rights & Global Studies, Law & Criminal Justice, Journalism, and Media, Art & Culture.
Available through our educational distributor, New Day Films. Buy it here.
Hire us.
JFMS offers workshops on ethical storytelling and video production, alternative film distribution, dating/domestic violence prevention, and community engagement/campaign building.
Contact us to learn more.
Awards
Justice for My Sister, an award-winning documentary.
Icaro Film Festival in Guatemala.
Best Long-Form Documentary in Central America.
November 2013Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF).
Best DocumentaryFestival Internacional de Cine de los Derechos Humanos de Sucre, Bolivia.
"Pukañawi 2013/Ojo Latinoamericano” Jury Prize.
July 2013UN Human Rights Council Session 23 Panel “Violence Against Women & Girls in Latin America & The Caribbean,” Switzerland.
2013International Public Television Conference (InPuT), El Salvador.
May 2013Cine Las Americas Festival, Austin Texas.
April 2013Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival.
April 2013University of San Francisco Human Rights Film Festival.
April 2013Movies That Matter Festival, Holland.
“Camera Justitia” Jury Prize.
March 2013
Get to know the people who made it possible!
Production and Cast
Kimberly Bautista
Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Co-Editor
Michael Flores
Editor
Juan Mejia Botero
Cinematographer
Cast the Family
Rebeca Eunice Perez
Adela Chacon Tax
Mamita
Rebequita Azucena
Angel
Dania
Cata
Aura
Cast Other
Ricardo Antonio Merlos Cojulum
Dina Donis
Rotman Perez
Romeo Monterrosa
Edelmira Alvarez
Juan Davila
Amanda
Rosario “Charito” Escobedo
Credits
A Film By | Una Película de
Kimberly Bautista
Cinematography by | Fotografía
Juan Mejia
Kimberly Bautista
Narrated by | Narración
Kate del Castillo
Edited by | Edición
Michael Flores
Kimberly Bautista
Directed by | Dirección
Kimberly Bautista
Produced by | Producción
Kimberly Bautista
Written by | Guión
Kimberly Bautista
Additional Camera | Cámara Adicional
Juan Kalles
Fritz Ofner
Additional Production Sound | Producción de Sonido Adicional
Alvaro Matheu
Milton Amezquita
Additional Equipment Provided by | Equipo Adicional proporcionado por
Josefina Lopez
Juan Kalles
Story Consultant | Consultora de Estructura
Fernanda Rossi
Editorial Consultant | Consultora de Edición
Kate Amend
Assistant Editors | Ayudantes de Edición
Matt Perez
Michael Bautista
Colorist/Graphics | Corrección de Color/Gráficos
Juan Mejia
Key Art Design Concept | Diseño de Imagen para Publicidad
Laura Pinedo
Interns | Meritorios
Adriana Bautista
Transcription and Translation | Transcripción y Traducción
Ileana Lara
Amina Alvear
Kimberly Bautista
Archival Research | Documentación
Juan Kalles
Ileana Lara
Kevin Leonard
Advisors | Asesoría
Juan Mandelbaum
Renee Tajima-Peña
B. Ruby Rich
Fiscal Sponsors | Patrocinio Fiscal
Women Make Movies, Inc.
Additional funding provided by:
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Princess Grace Foundation
U.S. Embassy in Guatemala
Petit Family Foundation
Chicano/Latino Research Center
Donald and Nasrin Van Deventer
Dr. and Mrs. John Coleman
Emilie Davidson Hoyt and Robert Hoyt
And by the generosity of 160 individual donors
Special Thanks to:
National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP)
Kathryn Gallan
Josefina Lopez
Kathleen Hennigan Bautista
Aurora Guerrero
Luis Alvarez
Vanessa Ramos
Lilian Nuñez
Jimmy Nuñez
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f2b2eb7ea7a5b14c52cb196/1603420641301-3XKB5E2S17BRE8Q9RCJ6/901921_291533134312445_1485020489_o.jpg)
“Kimberly’s determination to use documentary in defense of Guatemalan women is exemplary… Kim fought to bring their story to the screen and to use social media to further her message. Guatemala will be a better place for women thanks to Kimberly Bautista.”