We Are Guardians

In the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, a broad cast of characters and perspectives intersect, including those of Indigenous Forest guardians, scientists and illegal loggers. Together they provide an informative and eye-catching portrait of the Amazon and the causes and harms of deforestation.

The stakes are high as Marçal Guajajara, from Arariboia territory, and activist Puyr Tembé, from the Alto Rio Guamá region, lead the fight to protect their forests. Illegal resource extraction has tripled since Jair Bolsonaro took power in 2019, and widespread political and corporate corruption means it’s up to the guardians to stop the invasion of loggers.

An investigative journalist implicates international companies in the illegal trade, tracking the export of stolen wood to the US and Canada. In addition to logging, illegal extractive practices including mining and ranching are having a devastating impact, not only on Indigenous sovereignty but also on global climate stability. Grand bird’s-eye cinematography captures the vast river and diverse landscape of the state of Amazonas, a backdrop that echoes the increasingly complex and critical situation.