In the war on immigrants, a massive surveillance, militarized and carceral apparatus has been built to capture, imprison and deport millions. But in the shadow of this border industrial-complex, immigrants are building a movement envisioning a future rooted in human rights. We meet Kaxh Mura’l, a Mayan man who would qualify for legal asylum but must undergo Kafka-esque challenges and Gabriela Castañeda, a Dreamer and mother whose citizenship was suddenly revoked. Then there are scholars who describe themselves as “digital humanists,” who trace the flow of money toward politicians on all sides of the issue. (dir. Pamela Yates, U.S./Mexico, 2025, 110 min.). $5
The directors Pamela Yates and Paco de Onis will discuss the many raised issues with Spanish-American journalist Guillermo Fesser.
“Woven into the personal narratives, the data visualizations make the message land even harder. Borderland comes at it from more than one direction, and is more effective for it.” — NY Times
Pamela Yates is the co-founder of Skylight, a not-for-profit media organization that for over 40 years has combined cinematic arts with the quest for justice to inspire the defense of human rights. Skylight’s films and programs strengthen social justice movements and catalyze collaborative networks of artists and activists. She is the director of the When the Mountains Tremble; the executive producer of Witness to War; and the director of State of Fear: The Truth About Terrorism, which has been translated into 47 languages and broadcast in 154 countries. Her film Granito: How to Nail a Dictator was used as key forensic evidence in the genocide trial against Efraín Ríos Montt in Guatemala. Her third film in the Guatemalan trilogy, 500 YEARS had its world premiere at Sundance.
Paco de Onis grew up in several Latin American countries during periods of dictatorships. He is the executive director and executive producer of Skylight. Paco co-created SolidariLabs, a program designed to disseminate Skylight’s innovative model for creating human rights media ecosystems in conjunction with committed media makers, artists, technologists and movement organizations, with the aim of building enduring networks of 21st century human rights defenders. Paco’s film producing credits include 500 Years, Granito: How to Nail a Dictator, Rebel Citizen, Disruption, State of Fear, and The Reckoning and produced Borderland.
Guillermo Fesser is a journalist mostly known for his innovative morning radio talk show, Gomaespuma, which ran for 25 years and boasted over one million listeners. Fesser lives with his family in Rhinebeck, where he broadcasts weekly stories on life in small-town America for Onda Cero Radio in Spain. Since 2015, he has been a correspondent in the United States for the program El Intermedio on the Spanish TV channel La Sexta.
The CLOSE UP series is generously underwritten by Sara Arno, Rob Dyson, Wendy & Heidi Ettinger, Sven & Barbara Huseby, and Matt Davidson on behalf of Joan K. Davidson & The Kaplan Fund.
Upstate Films programs are made possible by Arts Mid Hudson, Dutchess Tourism, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and by Dutchess County Community Grants Fund of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley