Pero Sí Existimos

"Pero Sí Existimos" reveals the struggle of the Torres de la Paz communities against the largest US asphalt company which, in its arbitration claim of more than US$1.5 billion against Mexico, denies the very existence of affected communities in the region. The documentary exposes the reality of investor-state panels, where multinational corporations can demand multimillion-dollar payments directly from countries. These unilateral and opaque mechanisms are frequently established to hinder the implementation, especially in the Global South, of environmental protection standards or public policies. Through firsthand accounts, it offers an intimate look at the environmental damage, human rights violations, and attacks on Mexican sovereignty.

Director & editor: Romain Champalaune
Producer: Transnational Institute
Music: Tomás Barreiro
Director of photography: Diego Paredes