Materia Prima

"New Energy. Old Powers?"

2026 1h 29m ES

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Bolivia has the world's largest deposits of lithium, a metal that is essential for the energy transition. Without lithium, no electricity storage facility, no data centre, no electric car, no smartphone would work. The Europeans want the raw material to save their automotive industry. The Bolivians want it to combat poverty. While the Bolivian government negotiates with corporations from around the world, civil society groups are mobilising in rural areas, organised mainly by women. The film offers a rare insight into the Europeans' strategy to secure the sought-after material and carves out the conflicting interests towards extractivism and industrialisation in Bolivia.

“New Energy. Old Powers?”

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Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jens Schanze
Languages: Aymara, English, Quechua, Spanish
Countries: Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

89 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Aymara, English, Quechua, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jens Schanze, shot by Börres Weiffenbach. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ulrike Tortora shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "New Energy. Old Powers?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt40601764 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jens Schanze directs. Börres Weiffenbach behind the camera. Ulrike Tortora cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Germany. Dialogue in Aymara, English, Quechua, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

189 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.
3Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Aymara, English, Quechua, Spanish.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Jens Schanze, shot by Börres Weiffenbach. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Ulrike Tortora shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Marketing tagline: "New Energy. Old Powers?".
8IMDB entry: tt40601764 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.