Co-produced and edited by Rob Jackson for Director James Q. Martin and Sponsors Patagonia, Osprey, Clif and Keen

Associate producing and animations by Chelsea Jackson

28 minutes  |  2013

In summer 2010, photographer James “Q” Martin and conservation biologist Chris Kassar started an organization called Rios Libres. The organization uses multi-media to join the fight to protect the wild lands of Patagonia from proposed dams that threaten two of the most pristine rivers in one of the world’s most spectacular regions. In April 2012, Q traveled south and landed in the thick of some of the largest anti-dam protests the country has ever seen. He captured historic footage of the protests, then spent nine weeks traveling the length of the country talking to gauchos, scientists, activists and the public in search of answers. The result is a solution-based film that addresses some hard questions: “What does an alternative energy model look like?” “How do the Chileans feel about it?” and “Could Chile become a global leader by gaining energy independence via green technology?”

During the making of this project in 2012 and 2013, the infamous and highly controversial HydroAysén dam and mega-power line project proposed for Chilean Patagonia was trending towards being green lighted. On June 10, 2014, after a decade-long battle that stoked a nationwide and even global outcry, the Chilean government nixed the project, signaling one of the more significant environmental and social victories of all time in Chile. The country has since become a global leader in solar and other forms of alternative clean energy besides just mega dams.

The 28 minute version of the doc premiered at the 2013 Wild and Scenic Film Festival and a shortened 18 minute version premiered at the 2013 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. The film was selected for the worldwide tour of both festivals.

This project hit super close to home for Rob as he lived and taught in the Aysén region of Chilean Patagonia for a year in 2007/2008. In addition to moonlighting as a fly-fishing guide, Rob co-produced a 53 minute doc called Tracking Patagonia with Director Sarah Athanas which was his first foray into filmmaking and was filmed on an unforgettable journey through the region by bicycle and raft.