On February 5, 2015, Fatima Quintana Gutierrez12 years old, was returning home from school in Lerma, State of Mexicowhen nearby she was kidnapped by three neighbors who, after sexually attacking her, murdered her and buried her to prevent her parents from finding her.
Fátima liked the poetry of Ruben Dario and the history of harry potterhe sang and wanted to be a doctor to cure people.
Of his murderers, one of them was freed after five years because he was a minor and all his rights were restored, including the right to life, which must be respected by everyone.
Last year, the Supreme Court determined that his parents were victims of what happened and a damage repair; Initially the current Government of Edomex said it would present a proposal, but nothing has happened so far.
Also in 2025, Lorena and Chucho, Fátima’s parents, held a sit-in in front of National Palace seeking an audience with the president Claudia Sheinbaum Pardowithout success, but instead Citlalli Hernández, head of the Women’s Secretariat, appeared with them, promising them that she would do something and pass the message on to the president, but they are still waiting for a response.
Today Lorena and Chucho have become filmmakers to tell their daughter’s story, so that it is not forgotten and justice is finally done.
Fátima was 12 years old when she was a victim of femicide in the State of Mexico. Photo: OLECTIVA VARINIA
His debut will be in International Film Festival in Guadalajarain which this Sunday the long documentary “Querida Fátima” will be presented, which will be in official competition.
“Doing so is a lot to raise awareness, we cannot normalize the fact that these degrading acts of disposing of the lives of women and girls happen and nothing happens in this country, because the case of Fátima is not an isolated case,” says Lorena in an interview with EL UNIVERSAL.
Both are directors through Varinia Collectivein which Rodrigo Reyes (Samsón y yo and 499) was the experienced hand that accompanied them.
“We had known him since 2018 and we proposed that he be there because of the trust we had in her. This was a dream to remember Fátima and for the world to know her story, what happened, what continues to happen with the family,” says Lorena.
During the recording of the documentary, they returned to their house, where they left due to threats, to retrace Fátima’s last physical steps.
Already in the Zócalo of Mexico City, they call to be heard: there are those who stop and hug, but the majority do not. And they see how a group of women, whom they consider infiltrated in women’s demonstrations, burn not only the photographs of their daughter, but of other girls who are victims of feminicide in the country.
They are also at a rally with President Claudia Sheinbaum, to whom they shout with a megaphone and without success, that it is a lie that they all arrived, as has been the official idea promoted by the authorities.
Dear Fátima is narrated by Lorena’s voice and begins with the phrase: “in Mexico we are experiencing an epidemic where 10 women are killed daily.”
“The writing was collective, (the script) was done with constant conversations with her, it was asking what they wanted to share and what to say and for me to say: this is the way to represent it on film,” explains Reyes, the co-director.
“Querida Fátima” was supported by Colectivo Varinia and co-directed by Rodrigo Reyes. Photo: VARINIA COLLECTIVE
“It is not arguing or fighting, we want to have a dialogue, to be heard and we want to build a path to achieve justice. We want the film to be seen, but also heard,” emphasizes Lorena, who together with her husband, prevented the attackers from being lynched by the community, believing in Mexican justice.
In the production of “Querida Fátima” are, among others, DD Wigley (The Voice of Hind Rajab) and Inti Cordera, from DOCSMX.
On the day of the performance, Sunday, April 19, a special ceremony will be held at the festival headquarters.
“I feel that Fátima is proud of what we are doing, we have fought for 11 years for justice to be done,” says Don Chucho.
In addition to the tribute and the cry for justice for Fátima, the documentary will compete for the Mezcal award.
In the same category will be Mickey, Oca, Celestino, City of the Dead, I’m Mario, Wanted, Our body is a star that expands, What they are leaving us, The same blood and Son-in-law.
With themes such as that of a trans woman in Sinaloaa nun with extraordinary encounters, a red-ticket photographer involved in the search for a serial killer, a teenage journey of self-discovery and the search for justice in a country plagued by violence.
On the day of the performance, Sunday, April 19, a special ceremony will be held at the festival headquarters. Photo: VARINIA COLLECTIVE
