Chajil Ch'upup

The small pueblo of San Juan la Laguna (Solola, Guatemala) sits on the edge of Lake Atitlan - one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Unlike most villages on the lake, San Juan plays host to few tourists other than for day-visits, and is home to an exemplary self-started push to improve the village.

"Chajil Ch'upup" (Guardians of the Tule) explores the world of Juan, an Tz'utujil Mayan whose family has fished Lake Atitlan for generations. His generation especially, however, has been subject to major trials created by nature, and also by man. The members of the local fishing cooperative - Chajil Ch'upup - have banded together to work towards a solution and a better life.

  • Jennifer Robbins
    Director
    Chemical Valley, 3rd Degree
  • Jennifer Robbins
    Writer
  • Lacie Cushman
    Producer
  • Daniel Zawodny
    Cinematographer
  • Ruhui Zhao
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Environmental, Social, International, climate, south america, family, fishing
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 57 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Guatemala
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital HD
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • NY Public Television Screening
    New York
    April 4, 2015
    WNET
    Reel 13's weekly winner
Director Biography - Jennifer Robbins


Jennifer Robbins is a project manager and creative director who is passionate about documentary filmmaking, community development and education technology. A graduate from Humber College’s ‘Film and Television Production’ program, Jennifer is excited to apply her story development skills as the story editor for the Global Sunrise Project.

Jennifer was the casting director for the feature film ‘Reign’ that won the 2015 ‘Best Debut Filmmaker’ award at the Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto, Canada. In 2014, Jennifer received 2nd place at the ‘Polytechnics of Canada’ student showcase when she was selected to present an educational crime for which she was the creative director. From 2011 – 2013 Jennifer directed two award-winning documentaries that were screened in both festivals and on national television. She is currently a project manager for an online learning management Company and a story editor for the upcoming feature documentary the ‘Global Sunrise Project.’

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Director Statement

The making of this film had quite a profound effect on me. The level of passion and integrity displayed by the fisherman in Guatemala will stick with me for a lifetime.