Winner of the Best Feature Length Documentary at the just concluded Ariel Awards, the Mexican equivalent of the Academy Awards, The Guardian of Memory tells the story of Mexican men, women, and children seeking safety in the US.  Carlos Spector, an immigration lawyer born in El Paso, TX, fights to obtain political asylum for Mexicans fleeing extreme violence. This is the story about the kindness and hope that still exists in people who endured tremendous suffering, and Carlos Spector’s tireless efforts to help them.

“(Filmmaker) Marcela Arteaga,” wrote Hot Docs Review, “takes a daring and dreamy approach to testimonials about merciless drug war related violence near the Mexico-Texas border.”  In its review, Film Threat noted “Arteaga does stellar work with brilliant, yet haunting, images of the innocent victims, the valley's landscape, and the destruction of this once vibrant city. 8 out of 10.” Educational Media Reviews raved “I highly recommend The Guardian of Memory for its excellent interviews and shocking footage of Mexican families seeking political asylum from the Mexican Cartel. This documentary shows the other side of the immigration issue that is not being brought to the forefront of the conversation.