The inspiring documentary “LAS AMAZONAS DE YAXUNAH” has been honored with the Peace and Sport Documentary Prize at the SPORTEL Awards 2025, recognizing its powerful portrayal of sport as a vehicle for empowerment, unity, and social change.
Directed by Alfonso Algara, and produced by ESPN Deportes, “LAS AMAZONAS DE YAXUNAH” tells the remarkable story of a group of Mayan women from the small village of Yaxunah, in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, who form a softball team defying gender norms, cultural barriers, and adversity. Since ancient times, Mayan communities limited women’s roles to household chores and attending their families. They weren’t allowed to participate in sports. Playing barefoot in traditional huipiles, these women—known as Las Amazonas—use sport as a symbol of identity, resilience, and peace within their community.
Recognizing sport as a tool for empowerment
The Peace and Sport Documentary Prize honors productions that showcase the unifying and transformative power of sport in advancing peace and inclusion worldwide.
The 2025 laureate, “LAS AMAZONAS DE YAXUNAH”, was selected for its authentic storytelling, emotional impact, and compelling demonstration of how sport can empower women and strengthen communities from the grassroots level, by a jury composed of Champions for Peace.
Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, declared:
“Films have the ability to convey the emotions and values transmitted by sport. At Peace and Sport, we strive to recognize role models at all levels, to shine a light that guides others. This documentary does exactly that: it captures the resilience of women who dared to play and used sport to break barriers. In doing so, they sparked social change and became symbols of courage for entire communities.” By honoring “LAS AMAZONAS DE YAXUNAH”, Peace and Sport and the SPORTEL Awards reinforce their shared commitment to amplifying voices that demonstrate sport’s unique capacity to inspire empowerment and overcome differences.
Alfonso Algara, Director of the documentary, declared:
“We are deeply honored to receive this award, “The Amazonas are a living example of courage and resilience — their journey shows that when women lead through sport, entire communities are transformed.”
Masomah Ali Zada, Champion for Peace
“As a woman and a Champion for Peace who has faced barriers to practicing sport in my own country, this story resonated deeply with me. It reminds me that through courage and hope, sport can give us back our voice and our dignity — even in the hardest circumstances.”
About Peace and Sport
Peace and Sport is an international, neutral and independent organization based in Monaco, which promotes peace using the power of sport. Founded in 2007 by Modern Pentathlon Olympic Medallist and World Champion Joël Bouzou, Peace and Sport is placed under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. Peace and Sport calls on international decision-makers to deploy the intentional use of sport as a tool for transmitting values for peace, relying on its universality, on its Champions for Peace and on field actors.
About Peace and Sport Documentary Prize at Sportel Awards with Champions for Peace
Since 2014, in partnership with the Sportel Awards, Peace and Sport rewards directors who are tackling themes to demonstrate that sport can move barriers and norms in society. Masomah Ali Zada and Charmaine Crooks, Champions for Peace, rewarded Alfonso Algara, the documentary Director, on stage with the Peace and Sport Documentary Prize during the Sportel Awards Ceremony. Masomah Ali Zada is an Afghan cyclist who competed for the Refugee Olympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Born into a persecuted Shiite minority, her family fled Afghanistan to escape Taliban threats, reaching Iran by foot, though they were denied refugee rights there. t was in Iran that she learned to cycle, a skill she further developed after returning to Afghanistan, despite severe societal opposition. After enduring threats, she sought asylum in France in 2017. In 2019, she became the first refugee in France to earn an Olympic scholarship. In 2022, Ali Zada was appointed to the IOC Athletes’ Commission, marking a historic first for a refugee athlete.
About “LAS AMAZONAS DE YAXUNAH”
Las Amazonas de Yaxunah shines a light on the extraordinary spirit and determination of a Mayan women’s softball team from Yucatán, Mexico. Narrated by Yalitza Aparicio, the first Indigenous Mexican actress ever nominated for an Academy Award, the film follows the journey of 26 players — ages 13 to 62 — as they shatter gender stereotypes and overcome immense challenges to pursue their passion for softball.
Directed by Alfonso Algara and produced by ESPN Deportes, the documentary takes audiences on an intimate and powerful journey to Yaxunah, a small village where resources are scarce but the resilience of its people is boundless. What began as a short feature for Hispanic Heritage Month in 2022 evolved into a full-length documentary as the filmmakers followed the team’s remarkable rise — from playing barefoot in their traditional huipiles to traveling across Mexico and the world, representing their community with pride.
Their story is a testament to the power of sport as a tool for identity, empowerment, and inclusion. The film blends personal narratives with historical context, exploring the role of women in Yucatán across centuries, and highlighting how the Amazonas have become trailblazers who inspire women and girls throughout Mexico and beyond.
Las Amazonas de Yaxunah has already garnered international attention, being featured in prestigious festivals and cultural institutions, further amplifying its message of resilience, unity, and social transformation through sport.
