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Songs of the Vine

Shot over the span of two months in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, 'Songs of the Vine' is a virtual reality documentary focusing on the healing modalities, cosmovision, and culture of the Shipibo, an indigenous group well-known for its rich tradition of plant spirit shamanism, including a mastery of the visionary ayahuasca brew. By immersing the viewer in the depths of the Amazon jungle, and exposing them to the medicine songs and perspectives of Shipibo healers, 'Songs of the Vine' illustrates an ancient but increasingly relevant dynamic between humans and nature.

  • Maira Clancy
    Director
  • Blake Montgomery
    Director
  • Maira Clancy
    Producer
  • Blake Montgomery
    Producer
  • Ynes Sanchez Gonzalez
    Key Cast
  • Jose Lopez Sanchez
    Key Cast
  • Lila Lopez Sanchez
    Key Cast
  • Laura Lopez Sanchez
    Key Cast
  • Damian Pacaya Rodriguez
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Virtual Reality, Web / New Media, Other
  • Genres:
    Virtual reality, Documentary, Short, 360°, Native American, Indigenous
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 27 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 14, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Peru
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Oxford Film Festival
    Oxford, MS
    United States
    February 9, 2017
  • Tech Doc Fest
    Seattle, WA
    United States
    January 27, 2017
  • Raw Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    June 4, 2017
  • SIMA (Social Impact Media Arts) Festival
    West Hollywood, CA
    United States
    SIMA 2017 Finalist
  • Earth Day Film Festival
    San Francisco, California
    United States
    April 21, 2017
Director Biography - Maira Clancy, Blake Montgomery

Maira Clancy is a filmmaker, sound designer, artist, musician, and educator living in Oakland, CA. She is passionate about social justice, art education, music technology, and the environment, and feels most fulfilled when exploring where these realms intersect. Since graduating from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music in 2013, she’s been teaching digital media and music technology to underserved youth in Oakland, and currently works with Women’s Audio Mission to help amplify marginalized voices in media.

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Director Statement

'Songs of the Vine' is unique because it uses an emerging technology to illuminate an ancient and culturally rich series of Indigenous Amazonian traditions, including sacred plant healing, medicine songs, and the oral history of a complex and beautiful cosmology. We spent two months living and working among Shipibo curanderos (healers) in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, capturing their stories and ceremonial songs through virtual reality, and we hope this VR experience can serve to inspire and educate people about the incredible healing work of the Shipibo.