Clay Woman

Rufina, a Ayuujk potter, shapes her freedom and hope through clay, transforming her life and that of her family.

  • Concepción Martínez Vásquez
    Director
  • Concepción Martínez Vásquez
    Writer
  • Sergio Morkin
    Producer
  • Yovegami Ascona Mora
    Cinematographer
  • Gustavo Mora
    Sound
  • Micaela Vásquez Martínez
    Production Assistant
  • Gustavo Mora
    Drone Operator
  • Alexander Sérbulo
    Editor
  • Balam Toscano
    Editor
  • Erick Ruiz Arellano
    Sound Design
  • Isaac David Hernández
    Post-production Supervisor
  • Diego Trejo
    Post-production Assistant
  • Miguel González
    Colorist
  • Ricardo Garfías
    Color Correction Consultant
  • Conrado Pérez Rosas
    Still Photographer
  • José Antonio Gómez Martínez
    Mixe Transcriptions
  • José Antonio Gómez Martínez
    Mixe-Spanish Translator
  • Ivonne Said
    English Translator
  • Rubén Castillo Pescina
    Film Mentors ECAMC
  • Mariana Rivera
    Film Mentors ECAMC
  • Martín De Torcy
    Film Mentors ECAMC
  • Xun Sero
    Film Mentors ECAMC
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Mujer de Barro
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Country of Filming:
    Mexico
  • Language:
    Other
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Concepción Martínez Vásquez

Concepción Vásquez is an Ayuujk woman from Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca, and a Community Development Engineer. Throughout her career, she has worked to make visible and preserve the cultural traditions of her community while fighting for the empowerment and autonomy of rural women.

In 2020, she participated in the “Polos Virtuales” writing and script workshop, where she began to shape her voice as a filmmaker. In 2022, she received support from the ECAMC for the production of her first documentary, “Mujer de Barro”, a deeply personal project that explores the life of her mother, Rufina, and her fight against machismo and gender-based violence in the Ayuujk community.
That same year, she won a photography award in the Day of the Dead category, recognizing her artistic talent and her ability to capture the essence of Oaxacan culture. In 2023, she received the prestigious “Voice of Women” award from INMUJERES, highlighting her commitment to representing and advocating for women through art and culture.

Concepción Vásquez uses her filmmaking as a tool to give visibility to the stories of Indigenous women, exploring themes of resistance, resilience, and social transformation through artistic creation. Mujer de Barro is a testimony to the silent strength of women who, like her mother Rufina, find in tradition a path toward freedom and change.

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Director Statement

In the mountains of Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca, my mother, Rufina, shapes clay with her hands—transforming it into figures that represent both her survival and resistance. For her, this art is more than a craft; it is a path to freedom, a way to heal, and a tool to challenge the gender violence and machismo that define our community.

As her daughter, I wanted to pay tribute to her strength, perseverance, and deep love for her children, while also shining a light on the larger realities of our community. Mujer de Barro is an intimate, personal reflection on the power of art as a means of resistance and transformation. Through my mother's journey, I hope to show that, despite the adversities we face, it is possible to rise above, to heal, and to create a new future.

This documentary is not just her story, but the story of many women in our community who, through their craft and resilience, redefine their destinies. My goal is to share this powerful narrative in the hope that it will inspire others to see the potential of art as a tool for empowerment and change.