Documentary Film

Masacre de El Higueral

This short documentary about the collaboration between the El Higueral community and the Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador team was made by journalism students from the Department of Journalism at the Universidad de El Salvador [University of El Salvador]. 

Espacios de Memoria Histórica en Chalatenango

In September 2022, communities from Chalatenango participated in workshops for the design of commemoration spaces in El Higueral, Gualsinga and Laguna Seca (Laguna San Ramón), as well as projects for historical memory museums in the municipalities of Arcatao and Las Vueltas.

Norberto Amaya, Cantautor

A short documentary film about Salvadoran songwriter, Norberto Amaya, by Juan Bello from Triana Media in collaboration with Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador and Asociación Sumpul [Sumpul Association].

Parque Memorial de Las Aradas, El Salvador - Felipe Tobar

In this video, Don Felipe Tobar, president of Asociación Sumpul [Sumpul Association] and massacre survivor describes the importance and meaning of the Sumpul River Massacre Memorial. The memorial was co-designed by a team of survivors, Asociación Sumpul, KU Leuven, AgwA architects, and Western University.

Masacre de La Laguna de San Ramón: testimonio de niña Félix

This memorial video recounts the life of Félix María Cartagena Villegas (1933-2021), also known as “niña Félix”, a survivor of the massacres of La Laguna de San Ramón.

Hacer el camino

In this video, Salvadoran-Belgian architect Evelia Macal Guerra describes the working process as a collaborator on the Sumpul River Massacre Memorial alongside survivors, Asociación Sumpul [Sumpul Association], KU Leuven University, and Western University.

Masacre de El Higueral (Chalatenango, El Salvador)

Every February 14, the communities of El Higueral commemorate the massacre perpetrated by the Salvadoran army with the support of paramilitary groups and the Honduran army between February 11 and 18, 1981.  On March 3, they commemorate the repopulation of El Higueral and the violent repression that accompanied it between 1988 and 1996.

Masacre de La Laguna de San Ramón / La Laguna Seca (Chalatenango, El Salvador)

Every March 11, in La Laguna de San Ramon, the communities of Las Vueltas commemorate more than 14 massacres against the civilian population perpetrated between 1977 and 1988.

Guinda de Mayo, Los Amates (Chalatenango, El Salvador)

Between May 27 and June 6, 1982, countless civilians fleeing various military operations were massacred in and around Los Amates, including the forced disappearance of more than 56 boys and girls. This massacre is known as the Guinda de Mayo.

Proyecto de Museo de Memoria Histórica, Las Vueltas (Chalatenango, El Salvador)

In April 2022, the mayor's office and the Las Vueltas community present their Historical Memory Museum project to be carried out in the municipality's Community Centre.

Construir la memoria (Las Aradas, El Salvador)

In 1980, more than 600 civilians were killed in Las Aradas by the Salvadoran and Honduran armies alongside participating paramilitary groups. This event is known as the Sumpul River Massacre. Every May 14th, hundreds of survivors, family members and friends make the pilgrimage to Las Aradas to commemorate the victims, keep the historical memory alive and strengthen community cohesion. In 2018, the project for a memorial park in Las Aradas was initiated, backed by the Asociación Sumpul [Sumpul Association]. From the 10th to the 13th of April 2022, students and professors of the School of Arts of the University of El Salvador, international collaborators and community representatives travelled to Las Aradas to install the memorial’s ceramic plaques and the statue of Monsignor Romero.

La memoria en camino (Las Aradas, El Salvador)

In 1980, more than 600 civilians were killed in Las Aradas by the Salvadoran and Honduran armies alongside participating paramilitary groups. This event is known as the Sumpul Massacre. Every May 14th, hundreds of survivors, family members and friends make the pilgrimage to Las Aradas to commemorate the victims, keep the historical memory alive and strengthen community cohesion. In 2018, the project for a memorial park in Las Aradas was initiated, backed by Asociación Sumpul [Sumpul Association]. On April 9th, 2022, more than 170 people went to Las Aradas to carry the 600 commemorative plaques and the sculpture of Monseñor Romero, made by the students and professors of the School of Arts of the University of El Salvador.