February 15, 2017 To Whom It May Concern: My name is Larry Birns, and I am the Director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA). I am writing on behalf of this organization to express our endorsement for the latest project by Rodolfo Pereira, Curfew, which takes a hard look at the internal conflict experienced by Peru in the 1980s, and the many sections of the population negatively impacted by neighboring violence. To date, Curfew has already been widely celebrated by those who have seen it. Not least of all, it has been awarded the highest honor at the National Feature Films Contest organized by Peru’s Ministry of Culture. Moreover, Pereira’s commitment to telling this tale in a multilingual fashion reinforces the project’s aim to shed light on one of the darkest periods of the country’s history and to ensure that the victim’s stories are heard on their own terms. Since its establishment, the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) has been deeply concerned with the question of human rights in Latin America and ensuring that the most vulnerable populations remain protected. It is for this reason that COHA expresses no reservation in endorsing this project, and we are excited to see the impact it will have on how the region engages with this dark period of Peruvian history. We strongly support the film, Curfew, and eagerly await its release. Sincerely,
Larry Birns Director, Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA)