Renacer : Hopes & Journeys

Director: Gustavo Espíndola Cifuentes

Producer: -

Producer Company: Sangria Films

Agency: --

Client: -

Country: Colombia

Synopsis

Eight years after Colombia signed a historic peace deal with the FARC guerrilla, regions once torn by war are slowly rebuilding. This film takes us deep into the heart of post-conflict Colombia — where former fighters, victims, and rural communities are rewriting their future through tourism. From the misty peaks of Chingaza to San Juanito, once known for kidnappings, and through the wild landscapes of the Guejar River canyon and the Guaviare — once a hub of the drug trade — we meet those who’ve traded rifles for backpacks, fear for hope. Now tour guides, lodge owners, and adventure entrepreneurs, they offer a new face of Colombia: one of resilience, transformation, and fragile peace. But in regions still shadowed by threats and poverty, one question remains: can sustainable tourism truly pave the way for lasting peace ?

Objectives

Our documentary aims to explore post-conflict Colombia through a human and sensitive lens, far from the traditional clichés of violence and drug trafficking. We want to tell the story of those who, after living through decades of war, are now finding in nature and tourism a way to reinvent their lives. Through intimate testimonies and a journey across spectacular landscapes, we highlight the resilience of local communities and their pursuit of lasting peace. The project takes an immersive and visual approach, capturing the raw beauty of once-inaccessible territories while confronting the harsh realities of the economic and social challenges these regions continue to face. By giving voice to former combatants turned guides, farmers who have become hotel owners, and families who have transformed tragedy into opportunity, we aim to offer a nuanced and inspiring perspective on Colombia’s transformation. Finally, we question the limitations and contradictions of tourism as a driver of development: can it truly offer a viable and sustainable economic alternative for local communities? What threats still loom over these changing territories? Through these questions, we hope to raise awareness among a broad audience about the complexity of post-conflict reconstruction and the urgent need to preserve these unique ecosystems while supporting the populations who call them home.