International Film School recognizes sexual abuse

MÉRIDA, Mexico – The International Film and Television School of San Antonio de los Baños (EICTV) recognized sexual abuse in its facilities after the testimonies of four victims broadcast last week by the independent media The sneeze.

In a statement described by independent feminists as “late and re-victimizing,” the school acknowledged that “the published statements distress us deeply, as happened when we became aware of some of the cases.”

“The testimonies fill us with pain and once again motivate a necessary discussion in our community. “We are learning to face these situations,” they added, without mentioning the independent media that published the testimonies.

Likewise, they claimed to have implemented a Peaceful Coexistence Protocol that was approved in 2022, but which, according to The sneezedid not reach the students’ hands “until the day after the publication of the testimonies.”

The reactions and criticism raised by the statement caused the institution to limit the comment option on Instagram

“A late and re-victimizing note. Where is justice and reparation for survivors? We know there is more quietly and still in your system. Who looks after them? Sexual violence does not prescribe, so they still have the possibility of withdrawing support from sexually violent people linked to their school,” Cuban feminist Marta María Ramírez reacted to the statement.

“Does it seem like a utopia to you, a place where gender violence and psychological violence are carried out by some teachers and students themselves?” asked filmmaker Vania Quevedo, a graduate of the center.

Last Saturday, shortly after the publication of the statement, the Cuban government launched its strategy to clean up the image of EICTV.

In an event described by some as “surreal,” the president of the ICAIC, Alexis Triana, together with the general secretary of the Federation of Cuban Women, Teresa Amarelle Boué, presented the March 8 Distinction to the EICTV and its general director, Susana Molina, particularly noted in the testimonies.

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The four graduates, from four different countries and who declared on condition of anonymity, denounced various forms of abuse and sexual violence by classmates and employees of the center, as well as the existence of a “toxic” environment where impunity prevailed before these facts.

Furthermore, in the report of the most notorious of these cases, the cover-up and the absence of an anti-violence protocol on the part of the school comes to light.

In this case, the victim, a Spanish national, came to the school to take a workshop, where she was raped by the Panamanian composer, sound engineer and guitarist Ayrton Paul.

After his complaint, a process of cover-up, re-victimization and lack of protocols on the part of the school followed.

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