Join 2017 UNBC Honorary Degree recipient and world-renowned forensic anthropologist Fredy Peccerelli for a free, official screening of the documentary, Finding Oscar.

The film, one that Steven Spielberg served as the executive producer, features the work of Peccerelli, the executive director of the Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala (FAFG).

Film Description: In a forgotten massacre during Guatemala’s decades-long civil war, a young boy was spared, only to be raised by one of the very soldiers who killed his family. Nearly 30 years after the tragedy, it will take a dedicated team – from a forensic scientist (Fredy Peccerelli) to a young Guatemalan prosecutor – to uncover the truth and bring justice to those responsible…by finding the missing boy named Oscar. Watch the trailer of the film here.

This film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival last Fall, and is now screening in several theatres throughout the United States. It is receiving a lot of attention and many accolades for its quality and gripping story line.

Peccerelli has a long-time relationship with Canada, and even more specifically with Prince George and with UNBC Associate Professor and Geography Program Chair, Dr. Catherine Nolin.

As Dr. Nolin has facilitated field schools to Guatemala to focus on culture, rights, and power, she always included a visit to the FAFG labs and field visits to an exhumation, thereby founding a mutual and committed relationship.

Peccerelli served as an Adjunct Professor in both UNBC’s Geography Program and Anthropology Departments in 2012-13.

A few years back, UNBC and FAFG signed a very unique Agreement of Co-operation which has facilitated experience sharing to and from Guatemala and Northern British Columbia.

In addition, the Canadian Embassy to Guatemala has always politically and sometime financially supported the work of the FAFG. Peccerelli was presented with the Governor General's Medallion by David Johnston, specifically for Fredy's efforts promoting student exchanges between Canada and Guatemala.

In his role at FAFG, Peccerelli leads the development of a Multidisciplinary Human Identification System that applies victim investigation, forensic archeology, forensic anthropology and forensic genetics to uncover the identity of victims of mass crimes, and the truth behind their disappearances.

Applied in more than 1,800 cases throughout the country, this system supports the search for, and identification of, victims from Guatemala’s internal armed conflict.

Peccerelli will receive his honorary degree at UNBC’s College of Science and Management Convocation ceremony on May 26 at 2:30 p.m.

On May 30, he will receive a 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award at Brooklyn College in New York City on May 30.

He will travel to Kingston, Ont. on June 8 where he will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Queen’s University.