ISPN launches a series of mini-documentaries titled "Who Conserves the Amazon?", featuring nine socio-environmental experiences from community organizations in Tocantins, Maranhão, and Mato Grosso.
Divino Borges, a 52-year-old farmer from the Tocantins region, had never set foot in a movie theater before. On October 25th, he not only experienced sitting in one of the 600 seats at the Cine Brasília, but also saw himself on the big screen of a cinema that is a cultural heritage site of the federal capital and of humanity. The farmer is part of the Association of Small Agroecological Producers of Matinha, which, along with eight other eco-social experiences supported by the ISPN's PPP-ECOS Fund, with financing from the Amazon Fund, was featured in the mini-documentary series. "Who will protect the Amazon?", directed by the filmmaker from Maranhão, Neto Borges.
“When I entered that room, it was a huge surprise and joy, I never imagined it would be that big. I was moved and happy to see our history there, so grand. We can only be grateful to see our struggle portrayed in such a beautiful way,” said Seu Divino.
Seu Divino entered the cinema for the first time at age 52 to see himself on the big screen. Credit: Pierre Moraes/ISPN Archive
The audiovisual productions tell the stories of community organizations led by indigenous people, traditional farmers, family farmers, artisanal fishermen, and other traditional peoples and communities from the Amazonian and transitional regions with the Cerrado, in the states of Maranhão, Mato Grosso, and Tocantins. The relationships they establish with the environment are the focus of the narratives, which show how the management developed with forest resources helps to conserve the environment while generating income for the communities and contributing to sustainable rural development.
Approximately 400 people, including representatives from the government, socio-environmental organizations, traditional peoples and communities, as well as the public from Brasília, watched the nine short films, each with titles reflecting the local identity of traditional ways of life. They are: "On the Agroecological Path – Commercialization and Resistance"; "Agroecological Women – Links Between the Countryside and the City"; "Kayapó Nourishing the Araguaia"; "Green Beef – Sustainable Livestock Farming in Family Agriculture"; "Seeds of Restoration in the Gateway to the Amazon"; "The Sweet Honey of Cerrado Fruits"; "Kupixapu'a Farm – Ka'apor Ancestry and Innovation"; "Food and Culture – Quilombola Women Sustaining Lives"; "Agroecology and Traditional Practices of the Cerrado in Tocantins".
Valdivino Marques, a fellow fighter of Seu Divino, is also one of the protagonists of the films. His first and only experience in cinema, until then, was at the age of six. For him, bringing the way of life of people who live from the forest to the urban setting helps society understand the role of traditional peoples and communities and family farmers in protecting nature, as well as warning of the dangers circulating in their regions, such as the advance of deforestation from agribusiness ventures and large monocultures, in addition to mining.
“The pesticides that come with agribusiness destroy our landscapes and hinder our production. Mining and large plantations are also a threat. Using communication, film, to denounce this helps our struggle and shows people from different places that it is necessary to look at our realities and experiences,” explained Valdivino.
Seu Valdivino next to the poster for the short film he stars in. Credit: Pierre Moraes/ISPN Archive
The series director, Neto Borges, explains that audiovisual media helps to translate concepts that are distant from the general population, showing the cultural and even spiritual dimension of the communities.
“When we go to what they call the deep Brazil, but which is actually right next door, we broaden the country's scope. Audiovisual media allows for that. By making a documentary about these people who aren't in urban areas, we go beyond the visible, we go into the productive and imaginary realms, the economic and symbolic realms. There's the way of life, the space, and the emotional aspects, which often don't show in everyday life. The invisible and the subjective are in the way of life, in the relationships with popular festivals, with religious practices, because this way of life is intrinsically linked to everything, to the spiritual, to joy, and also to sadness. It's a fantastic universality,” Neto declared.
Each short film in the series is approximately six minutes long, resulting in a nearly hour-long session at Cine Brasília and a unique experience that will forever remain in the memories of those present. The evening of October 25th also mobilized and sensitized the urban public about the eco-social narrative.
“It was very important because it shows us here in the city that there are other realities, people who wake up at three in the morning to set up a market. For them, it's not just a market, and that's touching. I've always been sensitive to environmental issues, and my friends, whom I brought with me here, are also starting to become more sensitive because of moments like this. It was moving,” commented teenager Luara Bastos Cantuária, a resident of Brasília.
Seu Divino, still emotional from his film debut on the night of the 25th, returns to Tocantins full of new experiences, but, for sure, his story, as well as that of many present at the film screening, marks an important link between the countryside and the city.
“We feel joy in seeing the affection and support that many people have for our work. I will take all this experience and pride in seeing our work being disseminated in the capital back to my colleagues.”.
Check out the series on our YouTube channel, click here.
PPP-ECOS and the completion of a Cycle
The series was launched during the 3rd ECOS of the Amazon, a meeting that brought together 56 projects supported by the ISPN's PPP-ECOS Fund, with funding from the Amazon Fund, from October 24 to 26, in Brasília. For four years, from 2019 to 2023, the project supported different community initiatives in the states of Maranhão, Mato Grosso, and Tocantins, enabling the conservation of natural resources while generating income for local communities.
The 3rd ECOS concludes a cycle of successful ecosocial experiences. However, it also marks the beginning of new support and investments to ensure that projects by traditional peoples and communities and family farmers continue to be strengthened, so that local impacts translate into global impacts. When a landscape is productive and ecosocial, the benefits for climate balance are enhanced. The series "Who Conserves the Amazon?" brings the conclusion of this cycle through audiovisual language and traditional knowledge.
Check out some photos from the launch, which was a milestone in Brazil's eco-social journey:
Text: Méle Dornelas / ISPN Collection
Photos: Pierre Moraes/ISPN Archive