Leiv Marsteintredet
Professor, UiBLeiv Marsteintredet researches political institutions, human rights, democracy and political crises in Latin America.
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A joint initiative between the University of Bergen
and CMI – Chr. Michelsen Institute
Voices from Venezuela
06.03.2026
12:00 - 13:45English
Around a quarter of the population (8 million) have fled or emigrated from Venezuela in recent years, leaving all families scared from their forced break-up.
Sudaca films Following the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to resistance leader Maria Corina Machado, and the US removal of the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January, the framing of the Venezuelan problem in terms of North American aggression intensified in Norwegian and international media.
Voices from Venezuela invariably frame the crisis very differently. Yet most Venezuelans, also abroad, find it difficult to speak up due to threats from the dictatorship at home, and from ingrained international misconceptions about the Venezuelan reality.
We have invited Venezuelan voices of resistance to authoritarianism to shed light on the catastrophe that led to such a massive movement of people.
Professor Leiv Marsteintredet will set the stage with a historical introduction to the Venezuelan cataclysm. Venezuelan Human Rights and LGBTQI+ activist Yendri Velásquez will give an appeal, before a conversation with directors Mariana Rondón and Marité Ugás of It Would Be Night in Caracas.
At 13:45, we walk together to Bergen Kino for the screening of It Would Be Night in Caracas – a powerful drama based on an acclaimed novel by Karina Sainz Borgo. Set against Venezuela’s 2017 social and political collapse, the film follows a woman forced to reinvent herself after losing everything to violence and chaos. Get your tickets at CineLatino
Light lunch served
Facebook eventEvent info.
Bergen GlobalJekteviksbakken 31, Bergen
06.03.2026
12:00 - 13:45
English
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Yendri Velásquez
Human rights activist, OVV LGBTIQ+Velásquez is the founder of the Venezuelan Observatory of LGBTIQ+ Violence.
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Mariana Rondón
Film director, Sudaca filmsRondón is a writer, director and producer born in Venezuela.
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Marité Ugás
Director, Sudaca filmsBorn in Lima, Ugás directs, writes, and produces feature films.
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Aslak Orre
Senior Researcher, CMIPolitical scientist whose competence areas include local government reform, corruption and anti-corruption as well as parties and opposition in Africa.
Read moreLeiv Marsteintredet
Professor, UiB
Leiv Marsteintredet researches political institutions, human rights, democracy and political crises in Latin America.
He is head of Department of Comparative Politics at UiB.
Yendri Velásquez
Human rights activist, OVV LGBTIQ+
Velásquez is the founder of the Venezuelan Observatory of LGBTIQ+ Violence.
Mariana Rondón
Film director, Sudaca films
Trabajo propio, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rondón is a writer, director and producer born in Venezuela.
Her films have been distributed worldwide and received highly reputed awards.
Marité Ugás
Director, Sudaca films
Born in Lima, Ugás directs, writes, and produces feature films.
Her works have received awards, such as La Concha de Oro at the San Sebastian Film Festival, Silver Alexander at Thessaloniki, and Best Screenplay at La Havana.
Aslak Orre
Senior Researcher, CMI
Political scientist whose competence areas include local government reform, corruption and anti-corruption as well as parties and opposition in Africa.
Orre is educated in political science and social anthropology. His research focus is on Angola and Mozambique for more than two decades, and he has followed political development in Venezuela closely over the last 15 years.
Bergen Global is a joint initiative between the University of Bergen and Chr. Michelsen Institute that addresses global challenges.
