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Six young people stand with their recycled instruments in the courtyard of the Cateura music school, colourful bunting above them

A community. A landfill. An orchestra of hope.

TheChildrenofCateura

Music from Trash

A documentary by Anna Schmidt

Watch the trailer Press kit 81 min

The film

Instruments from what others throw away

On the edge of Paraguay’s largest landfill, children and teenagers play in an orchestra on instruments built from what others throw away. When the orchestra of Cateura prepares for a three-month European tour, not everyone can go.

“The world sends us trash. We send back music.”

Motto of the orchestra of Cateura
Flute players during an orchestra rehearsal Orchestra rehearsal in the courtyard of the music school, a cameraman in the background Seen from behind, the young people play Pachelbel in the courtyard of the music school

The seven

Seven young people, seven ideas of the future

Analia looks into the camera during the rehearsal

Analia

Music opened doors for her to a world she did not even dare to dream of as a child. Today she teaches the younger children of the orchestra herself, convinced that no dream is out of reach.

Ayelen laughs with her cello built from an oil drum

Ayelen

Grows up with her grandmother and dreams of studying music in Europe one day.

Maximilian plays violin in front of a wall painted with musical staves

Maximilian

Wants to show the world that his neighbourhood is more than poverty and crime.

Mathias smiles into the camera with his violin

Mathias

When the violence and the crime frighten him too much, he reaches for his violin, which gives him comfort and a sense of safety.

Yoseline smiles as she plays her recycled violin

Yoseline

Her dearest wish is a toy, and not just any toy, but a guitar, so she can learn another instrument. One day she wants to earn money with her music to support her family.

Alexander laughs into the camera, leaning on his double bass

Alexander

Found a place in music where he is accepted, after bullying and violence as a child.

Wilson López plays double bass beneath the sign of the Orquesta de Reciclados de Cateura

Wilson López

Played in the orchestra as a child and at times had no home. Today he builds the instruments for a new generation.

The protagonists laugh into the camera with their instruments in front of the mosaic of the Orquesta de Reciclados de Cateura

The orchestra

Orquesta de Reciclados de Cateura

Next to the Cateura landfill, the music school builds violins from paint cans, cellos from oil drums and violas from baking trays, forks and spoons. Its children and teenagers play them in the orchestra.

Violins from paint cans
Cellos from oil drums
Violas from baking trays, forks, spoons
Ayelen plays her cello built from an oil drum Alexander laughs with his double bass next to old oil drums outdoors Two saxophonists lean over their sheet music together

Screenings

Festivals and screenings

Festivals and screenings
Date Festival or cinema City
[TBA] IN-EDIT México [City]
[TBA] Next festival [City]

Space for festival laurels

Press

Press kit and downloads

Press kit PDF · 11 pages · 4,5 MB Press text PDF · 2 pages · German · 263 KB Poster A3 PDF · 1,3 MB Poster A1 PDF · 2,0 MB Stills ZIP · 56 photos · JPEG and TIFF · 192,9 MB Director Portrait and biography · PDF · 1 page · 93 KB
Screener On request, password protected

Press and festivals: schmidtFilm, Spinnereistraße 7, 04179 Leipzig, Germany · www.schmidt-film.com · World sales: EuroArts