Hummingbirds Discussion Guide

In Hummingbirds, Silvia and Beba tell their own coming-of-age story, transforming their hometown on the Texas-Mexico border into a wonderland of creative expression and activist hijinks. Filmed collaboratively over the final summer of their fleeting youth, their cinematic self-portrait celebrates the power of friendship and joy as tools of survival and resistance Grand Prize, 2023 Berlinale Generation. A Co-Presentation with Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB).

This guide is an invitation to dialogue. It is based on a belief in
the power of human connection and designed for people who
want to use Hummingbirds to engage family, friends, classmates,
colleagues, and communities. In contrast to initiatives that foster
debates in which participants try to convince others that they are
right, this document envisions conversations undertaken in a spirit
of openness in which people try to understand one another and
expand their thinking by sharing viewpoints and listening actively.

The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide
range of audiences think more deeply about the issues in the film.
Rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that
best meet your needs and interests. And be sure to leave time to
consider taking action. Planning next steps can help people leave
the room feeling energized and optimistic, even in instances when
conversations have been difficult.

For more detailed event planning and facilitation tips, visit https://communitynetwork.amdoc.org/.

About the Author

Leslie Benavides, Producer, Co-Editor
Leslie Benavides, she/her, is a multimedia artist who
was born and raised in southeast Houston. She has a
BA from Brown University in Urban Public Policy. HLeslie
was a Sundance/WIF Strategy Intensive Fellow and a
part of the inaugural cohort of the NBCU Original Voices
Fellowship and participated in VdR Industry Works in
Progress. Her work has been supported by Sundance,
IDA, Field of Vision, Ford Foundation | JustFilms, SFFILM,
Doc Society, and Chicken & Egg Pictures, among others.
Hummingbirds is her first film.

 

DISCUSSION GUIDE PRODUCERS
Courtney B. Cook, Phd | Education Manager, POV
Rachel Lu | Education Assistant, POV

Hummingbirds Discussion Guide (Spanish)