In a new legal setback for Colombian director Ciro Guerra, best known for his Oscar-nominated film “Embrace of the Serpent,” a court in Bogota has denied an injunction against his 2020 filed against journalists behind an explosive report detailing anonymous accounts of alleged sex. Harassment and abuse.
In its statement, the court noted: “The journalists did not violate the applicant’s rights, but instead presented a report of public and political interest, reflecting a particularly protected discourse that women It is essential to combat discrimination and gender-based violence.”
“These women echo the voices of other women in society, who are vulnerable to an institution that is still vulnerable to harassment and abuse. And that, in many cases, gives victims additional support. does harm,” he added.
“This decision of the Constitutional Court proves the democratic value of feminist journalism as a form of condemnation in a justice system that is still insufficient,” Matilde de los Milagros Londoño, contributor to the Latin American feminist journal Volcanicas. With founding editor Catalina Ruiz. – Naru.
He added: “This is an order that supports the testimonies and courage of the victims and the hard, ethical and responsible work of us journalists. It also defends the freedom of the press, explaining that Sero Guevara The legal actions against us are disproportionate and censorious.This is a very important precedent for feminism against sexual violence.
In a statement sent to VarietyGuerra said: “What was important to me was that there was some kind of investigation and procedure, that the authorities would look into the matter and decide if there was any misconduct or wrongdoing on my part.”
“This sentence makes it clear that nothing has been found and there are no legal proceedings, charges, investigations or proceedings against me. I have no intention or interest in censoring journalism, but I understand that There must be some kind of accountability on these matters. It is not right to affect livelihoods and careers based on misinformation, rumors and gossip,” he added.
Volcanicas did not name the women who alleged misconduct, but the publication notes that it conducted live interviews with each accuser and viewed text message exchanges and recordings of the alleged harassment. There was also an instance of alleged assault. Obliged by the court to present more evidence and confirm his report, Volanicas presented an updated version that included a ninth testimony, which was more than the original eight he first testified to.
Neither woman plans to press charges, the Volcanicas article said. Their goal was to “call attention to the normalization of sexual violence in the Colombian audiovisual industry, which hinders women’s professional development and affects them physically and emotionally,” Ruiz-Navarro and De los Milagros wrote The article included a transcript of his call with Goura where they asked him to respond to the allegations, which he denied.
The court referred Guevara to the call where he was given an opportunity to comment on the damning report. “In this context,” he concluded: “The opinion of the journalists did not start from a vacuum but from an in-depth investigation and they did not confirm in any case that Sero Alfonso Guerra had been convicted. or being investigated for any crime. Therefore, the court did not find the elements to determine that the report was intended to harm the plaintiff (by presumption of actual malice), but rather to contribute to public debate. was.”
Since the 2020 report, Guevara’s directorial career has been on a roll. It is no longer represented by Paradigm since some two years ago. The Prime Video series, “Cortes and Moctezuma” starring Javier Bardem, which he was producing, coincided with the arrival of the COVID pandemic.
His company Ciudad Lunar Prods, which he runs with his ex-wife Cristina Gallego, is one of the key producers behind Colombia’s Oscar entry, Laura Mora’s “The Kings of the World,” which Won the Golden Shell last year. San Sebastian Film Festival. “It was produced by Mirlanda Torres of La Selva Cine and Cristina of Ciudad Lunar, with whom I am a partner. I am currently in the middle of developing several projects,” Guevara said. Variety
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