As part of the International research project Turning Land into Capital. Historical Conjectures of the (Re-)Production of Wealth in Latin America, which focus on the most important historical conjunctions of land concentration by wealthy elites that reproduce today´s unequal production of wealth in the region, a documentary film award will be presented in 2026 to outstanding documentaries on the topic of wealth reproduction through land in Latin America.
In an era of growing social inequality and hyper-wealth, land ownership remains a decisive yet underexplored factor in the (re-)production of wealth. Nowhere is this more visible than in Latin America, the region with the most unequal distribution of land worldwide. The concentration of land in the hands of a few families has long shaped power relations, driven social conflict, and connected to broader global dynamics.
Through documentary, filmmakers are encouraged to engage with these dynamics and show how land continues to be a crucial site where wealth, inequality, and social struggles intersect. We invite filmmakers to take a longer historical view: from the 1860s to the 1929 World Economic Crisis, and from the 1980s to the present. Both periods laid the foundations for today’s unequal (re-)production of wealth.
Categories, Prize Money and Eligibility
Awards will be presented for one feature-length film (up to 90 min) and one short film (up to 30 min)
The total prize fund is 2000.- CHF per winning film
Films produced between 2020 and 2025 will be considered
Deadline for submissions: March 1st, 2026
Spanish, portuguese, english, german, italian and french productions will be considered
The chosen films will be screened on September 11th 2026 in Bern
As part of the awards, one person (director, protagonist, etc.) will be eligible to join us for the screening and award ceremony.
Submit your film here: turningland@uni-bielefeld.de