Introduction to a Crucial Documentary
ZDF Studios, the company behind the Oscar-winning film "My Octopus Teacher," has signed a deal with Prime Video to release its documentary "We Are Guardians" in the UK and Germany. This documentary is all about the Amazon Rainforest and the indigenous people fighting to protect it.
Release Details
Prime Video will debut the film in both countries on June 20, following a limited release in Los Angeles as part of a summer theater screening tour across 50 cities. Netflix has already acquired the rights for Latin America. "We Are Guardians" premiered at Hot Docs in 2023 and has since been shown at various film festivals, including Raindance, Rio, and the Mostra São Paulo International Film Festival, where it won the audience award.
The Documentary’s Focus
The documentary follows indigenous defenders of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil as they fight to protect their ancestral lands from invasion and deforestation. The Amazon rainforest plays a crucial role in stabilizing global weather patterns and producing a significant portion of the world’s rain. However, rampant deforestation and the loss of tree cover in the region have been linked to an increase in extreme weather events globally.
Production and Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio served as an executive producer alongside Jennifer Davisson and Phillip Watson of Appian Way Productions. The team also includes tribal members of the Guajajara people and Mídia Indígena founder Erisvan Bone Guajajara, Flay Guajajara, and co-director Edivan Guajajara. Fisher Stevens produced the documentary with Zak Kilberg and Maura Anderson of his company, Hochflammable.
Importance and Impact
Fisher Stevens emphasized the importance of making the film accessible in places where consumer choices and trade policies affect the health of the Amazon rainforest. Edivan Guajajara noted that the film is not just a documentary but a seed for real and lasting impact in the Amazon, aiming to protect the rainforest and its legal guardians. The business deal was negotiated by Off The Fence, which represents global rights excluding North America and Latin America.
Conclusion
The release of "We Are Guardians" on Prime Video in the UK and Germany marks a significant step in raising awareness about the importance of the Amazon rainforest and the indigenous people’s fight to protect it. With its powerful message and impactful storytelling, the documentary aims to inspire change and promote action to preserve this vital ecosystem.
