Josué Rivas (Mexica/Otomi) is a creative director, visual storyteller and educator working at the intersection of art, journalism, and social justice. His work aims to challenge the mainstream narrative about Indigenous peoples, build awareness about issues affecting Native communities across Turtle Island, and be a visual messenger for those in the shadows of our society. He is a 2017 Magnum Foundation Photography and Social Justice Fellow, founder of the Standing Strong Project, co-founder of Natives Photograph and winner of the 2018 FotoEvidence Book Award with World Press Photo. His work has appeared in publications including National Geographic, The Guardian, The New York Times, and A World History Of Photography, amongst others. This is his first film.

Director Statement

Can we look into the future for the answers to the present? Future Ancestor is a collaborative film that serves as a portal into the world of politics and spirit. In the process of filming, I saw that Lyla was trying to create this bridge between worlds and that her approach was ahead of its time. The film is an invitation to tap into something that’s not yet here. Indigenous peoples throughout the world have been reminding us that the seven generations ahead of us and the seven generations behind us are as important as the generation that we are in now. My intention was to create a sense of unity between all these different worlds and make a film rooted in respect for the matriarchy. My hope is that it invites people into a dimension that is possible: one that is led by indigenous people, led by women and led by the ancestors that are standing behind us.