Materia Prima
Jens Schanze / Germany / 2026 / World Premiere / 89 min
The Bolivian Andes are rich in both lithium and drama in a film about a new gold rush, where global interests collide and 500 years of colonial history continue to haunt the present.
The world’s largest deposits of lithium are found in the Bolivian Andes. These rare metals spark a new gold rush. Europeans want the raw material to save the automobile industry, while Bolivians want to combat poverty, and companies from around the world are exploring their options. A historical document from the 16th century, kept by the Royal Danish Library, connects the past with the present.
On the European side, entrepreneurs and EU diplomats are leading negotiations with the Bolivian government. In rural areas, local Bolivians are mobilizing in groups organized mainly by women. In a web of perspectives, we gain a rare insight into the strategic minefield of conflicting interests. The modern drama is haunted by 500 years of colonial history, which is given voice through a 16th-century Bolivian chronicle that puts the present into perspective.