The Portland EcoFilm Festival’s Global Ecological Cinema Podcast
Episode Two: AKABABURU, EXPRESSION OF ASTONISHMENT

Featured Guests: Irati Dojura and Laura Giraldo | Release Date: March 19, 2026

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The second spoiler-free episode of our Global Ecological Cinema Podcast features a 2026 Official Selection in our Indigenous Voices series, AKABABURU: EXPRESSION OF ASTONISHMENT. The film is featured in our EXPANSIVE ECOLOGICAL IMAGINATION 1 program on March 26 at the Hollywood Theatre.

This short film from Colombia’s Karmata Rua Indigenous Reservation reinterprets the myth of Kiraparamia, a woman who is punished by the gods for laughing at her husband. Through stop motion animation and live action, we see this legend come to life, framed by the experiences and connection of two young women who help each other understand that Kiraparamia’s laughter actually set her free and restored her essential bond to nature. 

For this episode, we talked with Irati Dojura, director, and Laura Giraldo, producer, of AKABABURU: EXPRESSION OF ASTONISHMENT.

They share their perspectives on some themes of the film—such as sisterhood and joy— related to ecology, what it was like to reimagine a mythological woman’s fate, producing a film in collaboration with Irati’s Karmata Rua Indigenous community, the gifts of Indigenous cinema, and more.

Irati and Laura mention a few of their favorite ecological films, including:

SALT OF THE EARTH (2014 | Dir. Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado)

PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997 | Dir. Hayao Miyazaki)

NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (1984 | Dir. Hayao Miyazaki)

(These films are available to rent at the world’s best video store, Movie Madness, in Portland, Oregon.) Irati also speaks of highly of Oaxacan director/writer/actor, Ángeles Cruz.

Our interpreters are Paula Martín del Campo Salazar and Ariana Ramos Rocha, with important assistance from Stefania Montaña.

Our theme music is from the song “Earth Worship” by the amazing band, Rubblebucket.

Our EXPANSIVE ECOLOGICAL IMAGINATION 1 program is sponsored by SOLVE.

Our podcast is hosted, edited, and produced by our festival director, Rozzell Medina.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this program are solely those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Film Forever Northwest or its affiliates.