CALAVERAS: HONORING
"THE DAY OF THE DEAD"
(Dia de Muertes)

"Best Documentary" -Saguaro Film Festival

"Honorable Mention" -Smoky Mountain Film Festival

Celebrated in Mexico and other places with large Mexican and Hispanic populations, The Day of the Dead is a traditional holiday that begins each October 31 through November 2nd and is based on the belief that the spirits of the dead return from the underworld each year and it is customary to build altars in their honor to ensure their spirits feel welcome. "Calaveras," which means skull in Spanish, refers to the decorative skulls made of either sugar or clay that are another important symbol of this revered celebration. This ageless documentary offers various examples of altars and their true-life stories retold by family members and friends who carry on this honored tradition, emphasizing the importance of remembering one's loved ones and one's roots. It is highly recommended to be viewed in conjunction with Day of the Dead ceremonies; it too has been sensitively used as a healing tool by bereavement counselors.

Produced by A Dog's Life Productions / 30 minutes / UHDF (Upconverted HD Format)