One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. While we can learn a lot about the filmmakers from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival through the art that these storytellers share with us, there's always more we can learn about them as people. We decided to get to the bottom of those artistic wells with our ongoing series: Give Me the Backstory!
When asked why Francia M rquez's story needs to be told now, Juan Mej a Botero doesn't mince words. Today, it's easy to feel hopeless and powerless, says the documentarian. Francia's story is a story about the power of conviction - the movement she inspired reflects the power that comes when we allow ourselves to dream again. This story can plant a seed of light in a time of darkness.
Botero's latest film, Igualada: Refusing to Know Your Place, follows M rquez's 2022 incredible presidential campaign in Colombia. Through exclusive access to the activist's run for office and the treasure trove of footage from 2006 when Botero first met Marquez when she was a community organizer, Igualada is a film that captures the feeling of hope and inspiration that ran through her campaign focusing on social justice and environmentalism.
While Botero was already familiar with M rquez and her work, his connection with Sundance Institute helped make Igualada, which premiered in the World Cinema Documentary Competition category at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, a reality. We received a grant from the Sundance Institute that was crucial in helping launch the production of this film in 2021, he recalls.
Below read more about the extraordinary story of M rquez's campaign, what Botero learned during production, and more.
More from Sundance Institute
28/08/2025
By Kristin Feeley, Director, Documentary Film & Artist Programs
If you want to tell untold stories, if you want to give voice to the voiceless, you've got ...
28/08/2025
Directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, Sundance Institute-supported Amer...
27/08/2025
Documentary Producers Lab fellows Wendy P. Espinal, Loi Ameera Almeron, Elijah Stevens, Crystal Isaac, and Nicole Tsien have a little fun for their group photo....
25/08/2025
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 23: Actor Anna Camp attends the 2023 Sundance Film Festival A Little Prayer Premiere at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2023, in Park...
22/08/2025
(L-R) Writer-director Alex Russell, Th odore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, and Havana Rose Liu on stage for the premiere of Lurker at Eccles Theater in Park City....
19/08/2025
photo by Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock for Sundance...
14/08/2025
(L-R) Clay Pateneaude, Tabatha Zimiga, Porshia Zimiga, director Kate Beecroft, Leanna Shumpert, Jesse Thorson, and Jennifer Ehle attend the premiere of East o...
12/08/2025
By Lucy Spicer
In a world where film serves as a form of escapism to many, it's rare to see a documentary grab hold of public attention and embed itself in...
08/08/2025
(L-R) Amy Berg, Mary Guibert, and Ben Harper attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival It's Not Over, Jeff Buckley premiere The Ray Theatre. (Photo by Robin ...
07/08/2025
By Jessica Herndon
In writer-director Marielle Heller's feature debut, The ...
05/08/2025
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
01/08/2025
A still from Amy Berg's documentary It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley, whi...
01/08/2025
Alison Brie and Dave Franco at the premiere of Together (photo by George Pimentel/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)...
31/07/2025
The 2025 Directors Lab fellows gather together for a group photo. Photo by Gabe Rovick...
30/07/2025
The 2009 Directors Lab fellows share a moment together outside at the Sundance R...
29/07/2025
Six Fellows Selected for Program Supporting Projects From Transgender Storytellers of Color
Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the six artists p...
29/07/2025
By Jessica Herndon
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Fest...
25/07/2025
By Lucy Spicer
At Sundance Institute, we're always in awe of the power independent film has to bring people together. That's why we love asking filmmak...
24/07/2025
Diane Quon speaks with an advisor at Sundance Institute's 2019 Creative Producing Lab. (Photo by Jen Fairchild)...
24/07/2025
(L-R) Heidi Ewing, Iselin Breivold, Hege Birch Wik, Thor-Atle Svortevik, and Rachel Grady attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival FOLKTALES premiere at Library...
21/07/2025
(L-R) Molly Gordon, Sophie Brooks, and Logan Lerman attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Oh, Hi! at Eccles Theatre on January 26, 2025, in Park ...
18/07/2025
Blanche Barton, Peter Gilmore, Scott Cummings, Sundance Institute Director of Programming Kim Yutani, and Peggy Nadramia throwing horns. (Stephen Lovekin/Shutte...
18/07/2025
By Jessica Herndon
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Fest...
17/07/2025
Blanche Barton, Peter Gilmore, Scott Cummings, Sundance Institute Director of Programming Kim Yutani, and Peggy Nadramia throwing horns. (Stephen Lovekin/Shutte...
16/07/2025
It's Emmy nominations day, and Sundance Institute storytellers are basking i...
15/07/2025
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
12/07/2025
Ryan Coogler accepting the 2013 Vanguard Award. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez.
Editor's Note: In honor of Fruitvale Station s 12th anniversary, we're d...
11/07/2025
PARK CITY, UTAH, July 11, 2025 - The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the 11 producers chosen for its annual Producers Labs, returning to Ucross Fou...
09/07/2025
By Bailey Pennick
There's something arresting about the way Jomo Fray captures the world. The cinematographer, now best known for his unparalleled work on ...
08/07/2025
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a fro...
04/07/2025
By Lucy Spicer
Editor's note: We are deeply saddened by the passing of Robe...
02/07/2025
Hege Wik and Odin appear in FOLKTALES by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institut...
02/07/2025
(Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)
By Patty Consolazio
This one's for any person who's ever felt put down, left out, marginaliz...
27/06/2025
By Jessica Herndon
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Fest...
26/06/2025
Louis Greatorex, Amrou Al-Kadhi and Bilal Hasana. (Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)
By Veronika Lee Claghorn
The world premiere of Amr...
25/06/2025
Aubrey Plaza getting ready for My Old Ass (photo by George Pimentel/Shutterstock...
25/06/2025
On the set of Leslie McCleave's The Shamrocks with Mount Timpanogos as a backdrop during the 1999 Directors Lab. Photo by Sandria Miller...
24/06/2025
John August with fellow Kibwe Tavares at Sundance Institute's 2016 June Screenwriters Lab. Photo by Brandon Cruz for Sundance Institute...
24/06/2025
The Comprehensive and Customized Program Supports and Sustains Mid-Career Directors & DPs with Support from Netflix...
20/06/2025
(L-R) Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, and Shoshannah Stern attend the 2025 Sundance ...
20/06/2025
Ignite Lab Will Kick Off a Year of Opportunities for Emerging Filmmakers Ages 18 to 25 Marking the Program's 10th Year...
20/06/2025
Zackary Drucker attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Enigma at the Egyptian Theatre on January 28, 2025, in Park City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walk...
18/06/2025
Kasi Lemmons with fellow Daniel Kaluuya at Sundance Institute's 2016 January Screenwriters Lab. Photo by Brandon Cruz for Sundance Institute...
18/06/2025
Sam Feder at Heightened Scrutiny premiere (photo by Robin Marshall / Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)
By Bailey Pennick
Editor's note: Since the...
17/06/2025
Top L-R: The Dating Game, All That's Left of You ( )
Center L-R: Come See Me in the Good Light, Omaha, Rebuilding
Bottom L-R: Selena y Los Din...
17/06/2025
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 20: River Gallo attends the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Ponyboi premiere at the Library Center Theatre on January 20, 2024, in Park ...
16/06/2025
By Bailey Pennick
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festi...
13/06/2025
(L-R) Lindsay Utz, Michelle Walshe, and The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Prime Minister at Eccles T...
10/06/2025
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. Whi...
07/06/2025
By Bailey Pennick
Alex Ross Perry is in the middle of a thought. It's not following just one strand, though. It's a textured and tangent-filled journey...
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. While we can learn a lot about the filmmakers from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival through the art that these storytellers share with us, there's always more we can learn about them as people. We decided to get to the bottom of those artistic wells with our ongoing series: Give Me the Backstory!
