About Mud

Mud features photos, videos and interviews that unearth the extensive human rights violations caused by the gross negligence of the Samarco mining company in Brazil. On November 5, 2015, a Samarco-built dam collapsed, and toxic mining waste tore through the towns of Bento Rodrigues and Paracatu de Baixo. The waste continued 300 miles down the Doce River, and emptied into the Atlantic Ocean. Towns and the Doce riverbank were destroyed. Nineteen people died, and thousands were displaced. 

Mud visually transports viewers to a bizarre reality of homes, businesses and history buried by the negligence of the mining industry. By bringing the ruins of small towns and river communities lost under mining residues to light, viewers understand the pain and suffering of the victims and the environmental devastation that occurred. The exhibition aims to raise awareness of this tragedy on its first anniversary.

"The victims were killed by the violent passage of the tailings mud, they had their bodies thrown against other objects, such as pieces of wood, they had their bodies mutilated and...dispersed across an area of 110 kilometers,” “The motivation of the homicides was the excessive greed of the companies—Samarco, here charged, as well as its shareholders—in the name of profit.”

- Eduardo Santos de Oliveira, Federal Prosecutor Against Samarc 

The Original Crew

Gabriella Cerqueira    Director and Creator

Creative producer for Waddler Clothing

Tulane University 2015

Max Cohen Hanes      Cinematographer and Producer

Filmmaker based in New Orleans   Tulane 2015

Salvador Gutiérrez Ruíz      Translator and Researcher

Educator                                       Macalester college 2011