This campaign is closed

Troubled Waters in Paradise: Costa Rica's Rio Pacuare

This film captures issues surrounding the plans for and resistance to hydroelectric dam development on one of the world's top 5 rivers.

You may also be interested in

Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

Troubled Waters in Paradise: Costa Rica's Rio Pacuare

Troubled Waters in Paradise: Costa Rica's Rio Pacuare

Troubled Waters in Paradise: Costa Rica's Rio Pacuare

Troubled Waters in Paradise: Costa Rica's Rio Pacuare

Troubled Waters in Paradise: Costa Rica's Rio Pacuare

This film captures issues surrounding the plans for and resistance to hydroelectric dam development on one of the world's top 5 rivers.

This film captures issues surrounding the plans for and resistance to hydroelectric dam development on one of the world's top 5 rivers.

This film captures issues surrounding the plans for and resistance to hydroelectric dam development on one of the world's top 5 rivers.

This film captures issues surrounding the plans for and resistance to hydroelectric dam development on one of the world's top 5 rivers.

Denielle M. Perry
Denielle M. Perry
Denielle M. Perry
Denielle M. Perry
1 Campaign |
Turrialba, Costa Rica
$12,250 USD 102 backers
102% of $12,000 Fixed Goal Fixed Goal

About the film ~ 

The time has come to move forward with plans to permanently protect the Rio Pacuare. For decades the Cabecar Indians that live in the Rio Pacuare basin have worried about whether their lands will one day be submerged under a series of dams and reservoirs, changing their way of life forever. For nearly 15 years the group, Amigos del Rio Pacuare, has worked to ensure that those dams will never come to pass. In 2005, in a plebiscite (a constitutionally recognized mechanism for citizens to make decisions about their communities) the people of Turrialba voiced their desires to save this river in a landslide vote – 97% said no to any dams on the Rio Pacuare. Since then, the citizens of Costa Rica have waited for the government to designate the famed river a national park. Today, instead of celebrating on the river, which is rated as one of the “Top 5” in the world by National Geographic, locals are worried as chainsaws cut trees and heavy machinery moves in on the river banks that should otherwise be off limits to any development.

Troubled Waters in Paradise was filmed on the premise that the people whose lives are most influenced by the Río Pacuare and impacted by dams should tell the story. During this one hour journey through the splendid river canyon and its riparian communities, key interviews with Cabecar Indians, whitewater boaters, politicians, activists, and energy company representatives illuminate the many issues surrounding the standoff between permanent protection and dam development on the Río Pacuare.

Acerca  del documental ~

Ha llegado el momento de seguir adelante con los planes para proteger permanentemente el Río Pacuare . Durante décadas los indígenas Cabécar que viven en la cuenca del Río Pacuare se han preocupado acerca de si sus tierras serán un día sumergidas bajo una serie de presas y embalses , cambiando su estilo de vida para siempre. Por casi 15 años el grupo, Amigos del Río Pacuare, ha trabajado para asegurar que esas presas no se cumplirán. En 2005, en un plebiscito (un mecanismo constitucionalmente reconocido a los ciudadanos para tomar decisiones acerca de sus comunidades) el pueblo de Turrialba expresaron sus deseos de salvar este río, en una votación aplastante - 97 % dijo que no a ninguna presa en el Río Pacuare. Desde entonces, los ciudadanos de Costa Rica han esperado para que el gobierno designe este río famoso como parque nacional. Hoy en día, en lugar de celebrar sobre el río, que está clasificado como uno de los "5 mejores " en el mundo por la National Geographic , los locales están preocupados mientras que motosierras cortan los árboles y la maquinaria pesada se mueve adentro en las riberas de los ríos que de otro modo debería estar vedado a cualquier desarrollo .

Este documental fue filmado en la premisa de que las personas cuyas vidas están más influenciados por el Río Pacuare y afectados por represas deben contar la historia. Durante este viaje de una hora a través del espléndido cañón del río y sus comunidades ribereñas, las entrevistas claves con los indígenas Cabecar, navegantes de aguas bravas, políticos, activistas y representantes de la empresa de energía iluminan las muchas cuestiones relacionadas con el enfrentamiento entre la protección permanente y desarrollo de la represa en el Río Pacuare.

More from the creators 


*Photo- Cabecar woman with medicinal plants from the rainforest in the Pacuare canyon. 

* La Pictura- Mujer Cabecar con plantas medicinales del bosque en el canon de Pacuare.

*Photo- Cabecar youth playing at river's edge near where they live. 

*Pictura- Jovenes Cabecares jugando en la orilla del río cerca de donde viven.

Famed Dos Montañas (Two Mountains) Canyon. The original proposed site for a Hydroelectric dam


Why we're making the film

For over two decades the people of Costa Rica and the international whitewater boating community have resisted the construction of dams on the Río Pacuare. After the 2005 plebiscite, Costa Rica's president at the time, Abel Pacheco, stated that he would move forward with plans to designate the river as a National Park. These plans, however, were thwarted in 2006 when a new administration came to office with a development agenda that included plans to dam the Pacuare. Nonetheless, as a result of continued efforts by Amigos del Río Pacuare to protect the river, the national electric company, ICE (el Instituto Costarricense de la electricidad), stated in 2009 that they’d postpone damming the river for 20 years. This announcement, however, does not insure that the river will remain dam free. As a matter of fact, since December of 2013 locals have been seeing signs of development on the river’s edge.

Amigos Del Rio Pacuare ~ Friends of the Pacuare River

Our goal in creating this documentary is to shed light on the case and to bring national attention back to the river as the 2014 election campaigns are taking place. The potential for this film to generate pressure for the next president to protect the river once and for all is great. It’s been 8 years since the people of Costa Rica voted in the plebiscite and it’s time their voices are heard around the globe. It’s time for the Pacuare and the people that depend on its free-flowing waters to be protected forever from dam development.

Por que estamos haciendo el documental

Durante más de 2 décadas el pueblo de Costa Rica y de la comunidad internacional del rafting en aguas bravas se han resistido a la construcción de represas en el Río Pacuare. Tras el plebiscito de 2005, el presidente de Costa Rica en ese momento, Abel Pacheco, dijo que se movería hacia adelante con los planes para designar el río como un Parque Nacional. Estos planes, sin embargo, se vieron frustrados en 2006, cuando una nueva administración llegó al poder con una agenda de desarrollo que incluía planes para represar el Pacuare. No obstante, como resultado de los esfuerzos continuos de Amigos del Río Pacuare para proteger el río, la empresa nacional de electricidad, ICE, declaró en 2009 que habían posponen la represa del río durante 20 años. Este anuncio, sin embargo, no asegura que el río se mantendrá libre de la presa. Como cuestión de hecho, desde diciembre de 2013 los locales han estado viendo signos de desarrollo en la orilla del río.
Nuestro objetivo al crear este documental es arrojar luz sobre el caso y para traer la atención nacional al río ya que las campañas electorales 2014 se llevan a cabo. El potencial de esta película para generar presión para que el próximo presidente proteja el río una vez por todas es grande. Han pasado 8 años desde el pueblo de Costa Rica votaron en el plebiscito y es hora de que sus voces sean escuchadas en todo el mundo. Es hora de que el Pacuare y las personas que dependen de sus aguas que fluyen libremente a ser protegido para siempre del desarrollo de la represa.

What we've done so far

Sponsorship for travel, lodging, transportation, meals, and cinematography made an amazing filming trip possible. We visited remote indigenous villages in the river canyon, traveled to towns across Costa Rica impacted by dam development, and interviewed key figures involved in the debates around damming vs. protecting the Río Pacuare. After filming for 33 days and gathering over 60 hours of footage, we're setting out to finish editing and distribute the documentary.


Lo que ya hemos logrado

Patrocinio para el viaje, alojamiento, transporte, comidas, y la cinematografía hizo posible la filmación del docuemtnal. Visitamos aldeas indígenas remotas en el cañón del río, viajamos a ciudades a través de Costa Rica impactadas por el desarrollo de presas, y entrevistamos a figuras clave que participan en los debates en torno a la construcción de presas vs. proteger el Río Pacuare. Después de filmar durante 33 días y la recolección de más de 60 horas de tomas, estamos estableciendo para finalizar la edición y distribución del documental.

* Original Budget (Below)


*Photo- Peter Walker filming Eugenio Guido at Angostura Dam. Peter Walker filmando Eugenio Guido en la presa de Angostura

Why we need you help

We need your help to fund editing the incredible footage into a full-length documentary and to distribute the finished product around the globe. We hope to generate sustained, long-term pressure from viewers on television stations and in film-festivals, to convince the Costa Rican government to permanently protect this jewel of a river. We're so close and require so little to make this film with purpose achieve its goals. Please take a few moments to contribute what you can to help with the editing and distribution of this film to save the Río Pacuare and protect the people that depend on its integrity.

Por que necesitamos su ayuda

Necesitamos su ayuda para financiar la edición de las imágenes increíbles en un documental de larga duración y para distribuir el producto final a todo el mundo. Esperamos generar presión a largo plazo sostenido por parte de los espectadores en las estaciones de televisión y en las películas de los festivales, de convencer al gobierno de Costa Rica para proteger permanentemente esta joya de un río. Estamos tan cerca y requieren muy poco para hacer esta película con un propósito a alcanzar sus metas. Por favor, tómese unos minutos para aportar lo que pueda para ayudar con la edición y distribución de esta película para salvar el Río Pacuare y proteger a las personas que dependen de su integridad.

*Photo- The Angostura Dam on the Río Reventazón (Case study in film). La Presa de Angostura en el Rio Reventazon.


What is the budget for? 

With the script done and the footage shot, we are ready to edit. Your support will help turn the footage into an epic documentary. Please help us help hundreds of people in Costa Rica protect one of the most treasured rivers in the world.

Para que es el presupuesto?

Con el guión hecho y el material filmado, estamos listos para editar. Su apoyo ayudará a convertir las imágenes en un documental épico. Por favor ayúdenos a ayudar a cientos de personas en Costa Rica proteger uno de los ríos más preciados en el mundo.

We need your support to help fund:

• Editing ~ Edición

• Distribution ~ Distribución

• Indie Go Go Fees ~ Indie Go Go Honorarios

Film Festival Entry Costs ~ Costos de Entrada Festival de Cine

• Color Correction ~ Corrección de color

• Animations ~ Animaciones

• Sound Enhancing ~ Mejora del sonido

• Music ~ Música

• Design ~ Diseño

• Additional Footage as necessary ~ Video adicional según sea necesario

• Premiere events ~ Eventos de Estreno

• Travel ~ Viaje


Who contributed to the production of the film? Quien contribuyo a la producción del documental?


Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
Need more information
Let us know if you think this campaign contains prohibited content.

Choose your Perk

Admit one!

$10 USD
An exclusive link to view the film online & download it to your PC
Estimated Shipping
March 2014
18 claimed

Enjoy the show!

$25 USD
An exclusive link to view the film online (& download) + a beautifully designed waterproof bumper-sticker from Amigos del Rio Pacuare (Friends of the Rio Pacuare) + an online thank you on our website.
Estimated Shipping
March 2014
26 out of 300 of claimed

Be seen on the big screen!

$50 USD
Recognition in the film as a donor + an exclusive link to view the film online + an online thank you on our website. *Send your photo to be included in the credits :)
Estimated Shipping
February 2014
11 out of 200 of claimed

Exclusive Webinar!

$75 USD
Access to an online webinar with the Film's creators so you can learn how to film a documentary from the ground up! + Recognition in the film as a donor + an exclusive link to view the film online (& download) + an online thank you on our website. *Send your photo to be included in the creidts :)
Estimated Shipping
February 2014
1 out of 15 of claimed

DVD Time!

$100 USD
A signed exclusive copy of the DVD + an exclusive link to view the film online (& download) + a beautifully designed waterproof bumper-sticker from Amigos del Rio Pacuare (Friends of the Rio Pacuare) + an online thank you on our website.
8 out of 50 of claimed

Swagga

$200 USD
A signed exclusive copy of the DVD + recognition in the film as a donor + an exclusive link to view the film online (& download) + a beautifully designed waterproof bumper-sticker from Amigos del Rio Pacuare (Friends of the Rio Pacuare) + an online thank you on our website + a "Pacuare es Vida" T-Shirt.
5 out of 40 of claimed

Red Carpet Treatment

$500 USD
A signed exclusive copy of the DVD + recognition in the film as a donor + an exclusive link to view the film online (& download) + a beautifully designed waterproof bumper-sticker from Amigos del Rio Pacuare (Friends of the Rio Pacuare) + an online thank you on our website + a "Pacuare es Vida" T-Shirt + entrance to the movie premiere party of your choice.
Estimated Shipping
March 2014
1 out of 20 of claimed

Bring a date :)

$1,000 USD
A signed exclusive copy of the DVD + recognition in the film as a donor + an exclusive link to view the film online (& download) + a beautifully designed waterproof bumper-sticker from Amigos del Rio Pacuare (Friends of the Rio Pacuare) + an online thank you on our website + a "Pacuare es Vida" T-Shirt + two entries to the movie premiere party of your choice.
Estimated Shipping
March 2014
0 out of 10 of claimed

Dinner on us!

$2,500 USD
Everything in other reward packages + dinner with the director and editor to hear the journey of this film and discuss how you can begin a documentary of your own!
Estimated Shipping
March 2014
0 out of 3 of claimed
Tags for this project

You may also be interested in

Up Caret