The third and final installment of Pamela Yates’ “The Resistance Saga” is headed to theaters. Paladin has snagged the U.S. theatrical rights to “500 Years.” According to Variety, the political doc will have its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York’s IFC Center on July 12 with a release in select cities to follow.
The film chronicles mounting resistance in “Guatemala’s recent history through the actions and perspectives of the majority indigenous Mayan population, who now stand poised to re-imagine their society,” Yates told us.
“500 Years” made its world premiere at Sundance in January. When we asked the director what she’d like people to think about when they left the theater, she said, “I want people to be amazed and thrilled by the intelligence and perseverance of the Mayans to resist, organize, and create a better country. And also to consider how indigenous people throughout the Americas are leading the way to finding solutions for a truly sustainable planet by confronting climate change and extractive industries.”
Yates emphasized that it’s “a feel-good human rights film,” and she wants “people to be inspired by the women and men they meet on screen. Courage is contagious, and I’m sure people will be empowered to resist when they leave the theater.”
The director has been working on “The Resistance Saga” for over 30 years. The trilogy also includes 1982’s “When the Mountains Tremble” and 2011’s “Granito: How to Nail a Dictator.” All three films will screen June 11 at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
“‘500’ Years is both inspirational and indispensable in showing how people who share a common cause can effect change, proving that, under the right circumstances, right makes might,” said Mark Urman, president of Paladin. “Pamela is a consummate storyteller who succeeds in making history visually engaging, dramatically enthralling, and, most importantly, utterly universal. We know that American audiences want — and need — to see this film, and we are thrilled to be bringing it to theaters.”
“500 Years” will be available to stream later this year exclusively on Amazon Prime.
