Fist Up Film Festival: Mujer Mariposa (Feature Film)

A good film can change your life. Mujer Mariposa follows three daughters of migrant women navigating identity, diaspora, and home. The 17th Annual Fist Up Film Festival returns to La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley this October 1st–4th! Doors at 6:30 PM, screenings at 7:00 PM. This volunteer-led, 100% POC-run festival presents films that connect global and local struggles, amplify marginalized voices, and create space for dialogue, solidarity, and community action. Admission is free, powered by your donations, ensuring everyone has access to the power of film. Please note: RSVP does not guarantee you a seat. Seating is first come, first served, so we encourage you to arrive early. Grab food and drinks from Los Cilantros next door, and enjoy your meal in the theater before the film starts. Film Mujer Mariposa (80min) Directed / Produced by Diana A. Cervera Cinematography / Editing by Magdalena Ramirez Both will be present for the Q&A after the film IG: @mujermariposadoc Mujer Mariposa is a feature length documentary that follows three first-generation daughters of migrant and refugee women as they navigate the complexities of building a home in the United States. Existing in the space between cultures, identities, and languages, their sense of belonging drifts between the landscapes of the Philippines, Eritrea, El Salvador, and the U.S. Through intimate portraits and archival imagery, the film traces the personal journeys of these women and their families—revealing how identity is shaped within displacement, memory, and intergenerational silence. Mujer Mariposa explores the “in-between” space that many diasporic communities inhabit, where home is both inherited and imagined, and the weight of duality and assimilation is felt across generations. Set against a backdrop of rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, the film offers a quiet resistance—centering women who reclaim their narratives while reflecting on the political legacies of U.S. imperialism and migration. Created by two Transborder Chicana artists rooted in the San Diego–Tijuana borderlands, Mujer Mariposa is deeply informed by migrant justice work and community collaboration. Contributions from activists, documentarians, and migrants shape the story—placing audiences at the world’s most crossed land border and amplifying voices from the global south. About Fist Up Film Festival Welcome to The 17th Annual Fist Up Film Festival! We believe watching a good film can change your life…We believe some films are made to be discussed… Join us October 1st - 4th in Berkeley, California. We believe that Social Justice films don't have to make the audience feel horrible about the state of the world. We focus on uplifting stories that show our power! Organized by FistUp.TV in collaboration with La Peña Cultural Center Check out the program and RSVP for each night: Lapena.info/fistup — Accessibility • La Peña is a wheelchair-accessible venue with step-less entry, wide doorways, and accessible restrooms. • Masks are strongly encouraged. If you’re experiencing COVID-19, cold, or flu-like symptoms, please consider staying home to protect our community. HEPA air purifiers operate throughout our space. • All-gender restrooms available We strive to make La Peña a welcoming, accessible space for everyone. If you have any specific needs or questions about accessibility, please contact us at least one week in advance. Email us at [email protected] Support La Peña — and save money! Become a La Peña Member: Enjoy free entry to our monthly political education film series, plus La Cumbia and ¡BAILA! dance parties, rental discounts and more. Join here: Lapena.org/members Make a one-time gift: Support our programs and keep La Peña thriving by donating here: Lapena.org/donate (donations are tax-deductible)