Materia Prima
7.9
“New Energy. Old Powers?”
Bolivia has the world's largest deposits of lithium, a metal that is essential for the energy transition. Without lithium, no electricity storage facility, no data centre, no electric car, no smartphone would work. The Europeans want the raw material to save their automotive industry. The Bolivians want it to combat poverty. While the Bolivian government negotiates with corporations from around the world, civil society groups are mobilising in rural areas, organised mainly by women. The film offers a rare insight into the Europeans' strategy to secure the sought-after material and carves out the conflicting interests towards extractivism and industrialisation in Bolivia.
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Jens Schanze Director · Börres Weiffenbach Cinematographer Ulrike Tortora Editor
First release March 11, 2026 · Produced in Germany · Languages Aymara, English, Quechua, Spanish
Production
Mascha Film
Production
Cine Global Filmverleih
Production
Germany
Produced in
Languages
Original language
Spanish
Spoken on screen
Aymara · English · Quechua · Spanish
Release dates
Denmark · March 11, 2026
Premiere · CPH:DOX
Germany · October 22, 2026
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
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