Once Upon a Time in Venezuela

Sunday 4 October 2026 · Central Film School, Clapham

Once Upon a Time in Venezuela takes us to Congo Mirador, a fishing village of houses on stilts on Lake Maracaibo, beneath the famous Catatumbo lightning. Filmed over seven years, Anabel Rodríguez Ríos’s documentary follows Tamara, a local businesswoman and representative of the ruling party, and Natalie, a teacher who supports the opposition, as their village confronts corruption, pollution and political decay. It is an intimate portrait of a community holding on, and of a country.

Rodrian Ramirez will open the afternoon on the cuatro, a traditional Venezuelan four-stringed instrument, playing from the moment the doors open until the film starts.

On 24 June, two powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck the north of Venezuela, less than a minute apart. The coastal state of La Guaira and the capital, Caracas, were hit hardest. More than 6,500 people lost their lives, thousands are still missing, and thousands of families lost their homes. Aid agencies say the most urgent needs are safe shelter, clean water, health care and support for children.

All ticket proceeds will go to Venezuelan earthquake relief through two charities, Coromoto 2020 and Venezuelan Relief UK. Tickets are £15, and you can choose to pay more as a donation. Come and watch with us, and help us stand with Venezuela.

15:30 Doors open
16:00 Film
After Q&A with Anabel Rodríguez Ríos + live cuatro by Rodrian Ramirez