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Dessana

Dessana is a short documentary that examines CIPIÁ, an indigenous community of the Dessana indigenous people who are settled in the Amazon Rainforest on the outskirts of Manaus, Brazil. The Dessana indigenous people are an indigenous people who are scattered throughout the Amazon Rainforest in both Brazilian & Colombian territories This documentary examines Domingo, the chief leader of CIPIÁ, his son Gui, and how this community uses ritual dances and instrumentation as not only a means of preserving their cultural identity but also as a means of income. This story presents the history of this community and how they have maintained it.

  • Alonzo L. Conyers Jr.
    Director
  • Alonzo L. Conyers Jr.
    Writer
  • Alonzo L Conyers Jr.
    Producer
  • Elissa Padula
    Editor
  • L.J. Garcia
    Editor
  • L.J. Garcia
    Associate Producer
  • Elissa Padula
    Associate Producer
  • Daniel Taylor
    Sound Designer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 19 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 6, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Brazil
  • Language:
    Portuguese
  • Shooting Format:
    iPhone, Drone
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - George Mason University
Director Biography - Alonzo L. Conyers Jr.

Alonzo Conyers is Film and Video Studies major and a Foreign Language major, studying Spanish and French, at George Mason University. He is studying Portuguese independently. Alonzo directed, produced, and completed this senior capstone documentary project during his senior year in 2022. He lived with the Dessana community for over a week and in Manaus Brazil for roughly 2 months. Thank you to GMU Impact and Office of Undergraduate Education for awarding director, Alonzo Conyers, the Mason Impact MINI grant! Lastly, thank you to the CIPIÁ community for hosting and allowing Alonzo to tell their story!

Additionally, Alonzo has worked internships with Hollywood film companies at 3 out of the "Big Five" major international film festivals including Sundance, Cannes, and TIFF. He has also studied abroad in France, Peru, Ecuador and worked an internship in Colombia. This is his first time making a short documentary. His passions and interests include learning languages, traveling, interacting with people of all backgrounds, watching films & television, and making film and content that deals with social issues or promotes global competency, bilingual or multilingualism, and multiculturalism.

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