Experiencing Interruptions?

AD MEMORIAM REI PERPETUAM

The Chihuahuan Desert is considered one of the arid regions with the greatest wealth of species in the world. At the current rate of loss, it is estimated that by 2025, its natural grasslands will disappear in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico alone.
“Ad memoriam rei perpetuam”, records for perpetuity through the lens of its director, Mauricio De la Maza-Benignos, the acts and events that are transforming the natural grassland ecosystem into another corporality, “the human that circulates, divides and blocks”. The film uncovers, with the voice of acclaimed poet Claudia Luna Fuentes, the historical conflict between grassland ecosystems, freshwater, human nature and biodiversity, that is pushing this biome to its extinction. Moreover, the film addresses using solemn poetry, the absurd, satire, beauty and hope, through interviews with the various actors of the conflict, two dimensions of life, nature and human, since the latter usually "decides over price, and not value the fate of what is not possible to price".

  • Mauricio de la Maza-Benignos
    Director
  • Claudia Luna Fuentes
    Writer
  • Mauricio de la Maza Benignos
    Writer
  • De la Maza Films
    Producer
  • Andrea Ayala Luna
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 47 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 27, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    8,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Country of Filming:
    Mexico
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    19:10
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
    New York, N.Y.
    United States
    October 20, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Suncine: Environmental Film Festival
    Barcelona, Barcelona
    Spain
    November 3, 2021
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • De la Maza Consulting and Films
    Distributor
    Country: Mexico
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Mauricio de la Maza-Benignos

I am a scientist, a lawyer and a filmmaker. I consider myself a naturalist. I am currently the CEO of Conservation NGO Pronatura Noreste. Before, I was the director of the WWF-Chihuahuan Desert program. For the last twenty years, I have been working in environment conservation. Through this time, I developed my experience and points of view about the conflicts that arise between human nature and the natural environment, including a profound need to speak out in support of our human right to a healthy environment. The human right to a healthy environment brings together two environmental dimensions: as a legal asset given its intrinsic value; and as a civil, cultural, economic, political, and social right that protects the core elements of our natural environment that enable a life of dignity.
I have edited books, written book chapters, and published scientific articles in various academic fields; I have also developed legal analysis, policy and advocacy work related to freshwater, the natural environment and sustainable development.
I graduated summa cum laude with a PhD in Biology and Sustainable Development at the UANL. I also have an MBA from Lancaster University, UK, with exchange program with ESC, Lyon, France where I specialized in Strategic Planning; and a BSc degree in Agricultural Engineering and Animal Science from the Monterrey Tech, and a Law Degree with an Honorable Mention in Excellence from TecMilenio. I am member of the National System of Researchers. In 2015, the UANL awarded me with the Research Prize to the best scholar paper in the Natural Sciences during 2014 in the state of Nuevo León. In 2014, I received the "Dr. José Álvarez del Villar" prize, by the Mexican Ichthyology Society to the best PhD dissertation; and in 1994 the Medal, “The Best Students in Mexico” by Science and Technology National Council (CONACYT) and Mexican Institute of Culture, awarded by the President of Mexico to the finest graduating students.
In the last four years, I began to capture my experiences and perspective mostly in short documentary works. By the end of 2019, I finished my first feature nature documentary (108 min), AD MEMORIAM REI PERPETUAM.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The human right to a healthy environment has a double dimension: as a legal asset (given its intrinsic value), and as civil, cultural, economic, political, and social right that enables a life of dignity.