THIS FABRIC KNOWS

PBS Digital Studios presents

Lavanda del Norte Productions LLC

in association with Black Robin Media

A film by Mariana Góngora Reyes 

THIS FABRIC KNOWS

Produced & Directed By

Mariana Góngora Reyes 

Writer

Mariana Góngora Reyes 

Director of Photography  

Emily Kinskey

Sound Operator

Alex Palma 

Editor

Gerardo del Valle 

Executive Producer

Lynne Robinson

MEDIA CONTACT

Stephanie Kennard, PBS

skkennard@pbs.org;

571-319-7478

TAGLINE: whispers of La Sierra become patterns of recognition

LOGLINE:  At great risk, a forcibly displaced people create a “living map” of their lost home as an invitation to the world: “We still exist, do not forget us”. 

SYNOPSIS: Moving emotion into action, the Rarámuri of La Sierra, Mexico refuse to let their homeland disappear: The women delicately embroider before-and-after maps of their homes, using their folklore tradition to craft a living memory and preserve their indelible identity. The embroidered maps become the standard-bearers, heralding a future and a return.

PBS: THIS FABRIC KNOWS is one of eight films in the PBS Creative Voices series, “The Story in Us”, a new anthology series premiering on PBS VOICES, a documentary-focused YouTube channel. Produced in collaboration with PBS Creative Voices Ignite Filmmakers Program, the eight-part series explores how culture, history, and identity are preserved through the universal art of storytelling.

Director’s Bio: A Documentarian, producer, and writer, Mariana Góngora (a.k.a. Manis) keeps expanding her documentary practice through participatory methods, collaborative storytelling, and a healthy obsession with archival. Her work includes directing La Bivencia; PBS Terra’s Why Is NASA Interested In This Upside Down Cave?; several episodes of the 31 2021 series—including Germany (Call Through the Crisis), New York (Homework Gap), and Argentina (Community Networks)—as well as The Harp’s Spirit, with more projects steadily joining the list.

She currently serves as Co-Director and La Frontera Film Lab Program Director at Femme Frontera, and is directing her first feature film, Before You Die, You’ll Know Your Absences (working title).

Manis was born on the U.S.–Mexico border, raised in Chihuahua, and, like many migrants and borderlanders, has learned to treat movement as both survival strategy and personality trait. She now lives between Mexico, the U.S., and Argentina, because apparently sticking to one territory felt too predictable. She navigates stories, mismatched time zones, and a growing pile of notebooks she promises to sort out someday. She’s also pursuing a graduate degree in Documentary Journalism, adding yet another layer to the borders, films, and identities that move through her.

Technical Details: THIS FABRIC KNOWS

Country of Origin: United States

Runtime: 8:45 minutes

Screening Formats DCP

Aspect Ratio 16:9

Sound Dolby 5.1

Spoken Language: English and Spanish

Subtitles: Yes

Closed Captions Yes

Principle Location: Filmed in Chihuahua City, Mexico

 FULL CREDITS

Produced and Directed by

Mariana Góngora Reyes

Featuring

Patricia Mayorga

Coloradas de la Virgen Community Members

Associate Producer

Jasmin Lopez Mara

Script Writer

Mariana Góngora Reyes

Director Of Photography

Emily Kinskey 

Sound Operator

Alex Palma

Producer Assistant

Juan Pablo Góngora

Editor

Gerardo del Valle

Animator

Miranda Morales Rosales

Sound Design & Mix

Alex Palma

Colorist

Cheeky Monkey Post

Content Consultant

Margarita Rivera Arrivillaga

David Romo

Additional Embroidery Maps Still Photography 

Raúl Fernando Pérez Lira

Cartographic Mexico Map 

Sebastián Estremo

Fact Checker

Cynthia Pompa

Interview Location Furnished By

Huerto Bokashi Chihuahua

Music 

APM

FOR BLACK ROBIN MEDIA

Executive Producer

Lynne Robinson

FOR PBS

Executive In Charge

Maribel Lopez

Director of Programming

Gabrielle Ewing

Fact Checker

Yvonne McGreevy

Series Branding

Leah Nichols

Project Manager for PBS Creative Voices

Nina Shelton

Sr. Director of Programming/Development for PBS Creative Voices

Wendy Llinas

Original Production Funding provided by Anne Ray Foundation.

The Story In Us is a production of Lavanda del Norte Productions LLC in association with Black Robin Media for PBS Digital Studios.  

This program is produced by Lavanda del Norte Productions LLC, which is solely responsible for its content.