Eskawata Kayawai - The Spirit of Transformation

KEY NUMBERS
7 years of production, 33 people interviewed (generating clean material of 9 hours of interviews), 170 people supporting financially through crowdfunding, 1 public fund “Show me The Fund”; The indigenous land and main village where the film was made is only accessible from a city in the interior of Acre (7 hours by car from the capital), taking a boat up the river for 4 days or a speedboat for 2 days (which there are not long ago it was 14 days in the retail system).

KEY INFO
Experience a 70+ minute documentary depicting the resurgence of the Huni Kuin's indigenous culture and spiritual practices through their engagement with the forest medicines.
Spanning 7 years, this project takes viewers to the Huni Kuin Village Novo Futuro in the heart of the Amazon. The film captures the revival of their culture and spirituality trough ceremonies, rituals, cultural customs, music, and interviews with various community leaders representing different demographics, offering insights into their lives and experiences with their tradition.
Directed by Lara Jacoski and Patrick Belem, the film is produced by Bem-te-vi Productions in collaboration with figures like Ninawa Pai da Mata (Spiritual leader of Novo Futuro Village) and Marcos Vinicius Romão (Co-Organizer of the Festival Eskawatã Kayawai). Co-produced by Joakim Hauge from Norway, with Executive Production involvement from Oona Chaplin and Alex Moreno from the US, alongside Torstein Grude from Norway.

DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE FILM
"This film encapsulates the essence of a specific region while echoing the broader reality of Brazil's indigenous communities. The Huni Kuin have faced profound challenges since the arrival of colonizers, enduring restrictions on their traditional lifestyle, language, and sustenance.
Having weathered years of cultural suppression and subjugation, the Huni Kuin experienced a spiritual awakening, reconnecting with their heritage and reclaiming their cultural identity. This resurgence marked a transformative shift, propelling them into an era defined by indigenous rights and cultural renaissance. Today, they embody a harmonious existence with nature, sharing their ancestral wisdom—a worldview rooted in nature and ancestors—which not only fosters personal healing but also extends its healing influence to the wider world.
Through this film, we aim to convey a message of hope and illumination, showcasing the remarkable journey of a community that, within two decades of dedicated effort, rediscovered its core values and found its center. It serves as a beacon, not only for other indigenous communities reclaiming their lands but also as a universal call for society to reconnect with its own roots and values, fostering harmony within ourselves, our shared humanity, and the planet."

DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE APPROACH
A 7 years study and life experience, which portrays the cultural rescue of a native land and culture through a narrative by their own people. We interviewed about 30 indigenous, portraying the reality of the cultural revival of their people. In between the narrative, we explore the rich imagery from the forest and the culture. We are taken by the villagers to the cacophony of the forest, the beauty and the simplicity of everyday life, the enchantments of the natural medicines and the work to rediscover ourselves in communion with nature.
The approach of the directors is to focus their work into true interactions, bringing their projects to the next level with a sense of intimacy that is captured beyond words. Much time was dedicated to cohabiting with the Indigenous community, engaging in shared activities like singing together, exchanging songs, and embracing the essence of life in its purest form before any recordings were made. The audience can feel the film beyond comprehension and technique, touching reality beautifully and sensitively, but powerfully.
Such a powerful return home is an example for the world, especially in the critical moment in which we live, proving that it is possible to rescue ancestral values, living in harmony with ourselves and the planet.

REVIEWS

STEFANIE FRANK – USA
“Hipnotizante! O filme nos leva às profundezas da selva, para a partilha autêntica dos povos indígenas de forma tão aberta”

FRANCO BLANDI - ITALY
“Eskawata Kayawai offers a powerful testament to the resilience and cultural renaissance of the Huni Kuin people in the Brazilian Amazon. Through an intense visual narrative, the documentary celebrates the return to ancestral and spiritual practices, revealing how reconnecting with one's identity can be an act of transformation and resistance. This film illuminates the challenges faced by these communities, but also invites audiences to reflect on the importance of cultural and environmental protection at a crucial time for our planet.”

JOSEPH MAYS – USA
“The film's natural, organic rhythm mirrors the meandering of a river through the forest, the cinematography and soundscape are a nourishing feast for the eyes and ears, and the cast of characters on display are given an intimate vessel in which to share their story. with strength and vulnerability.”

ATINA ALTZINGER – AUSTRIA
“Eskawata Kayawai touches many hearts. Not only the deep and real dialogue, but also realizing that the directors dedicated part of their lives to learning and being with indigenous communities.”

DRA. KERRI WELCH – USA
“An intimate portrait of an original people, feeling the power of their lineage in relationship with the natural world. May this sincere beauty be preserved and awakened in all who take the time to see and listen. Thank you to everyone who brings this beauty to the whole world”

MICHARL MARGUS – SLOVAKIA
“This film shows that a bright future is possible. If we connect with our roots, with the earth, we can face the collapse of the modern industrial world with hope. And it doesn't matter if we are natives, or people who live in New York, Paris, Bratislava or anywhere on the planet. We can all live in a much simpler way and on this path we will gradually realize that we don't need so much to be really, really happy and live a full life. A big thank you to the Huni Kuin people for showing us the way and to the creators of the film for sharing the message with the world.”