ESKAWATA KAYAWAI
THE SPIRIT OF TRANSFORMATION
THE FILM
A 7 years project of research and visits to the Huni Kuin villages of the Humaitá River Indigenous Land (Acre) and beyond, at the heart of the Brazilian Amazon.
A pilgrimage resulting in a feature film that portrays the reconnection of a people to their essence, back to their nature. Eskawatã Kayawai - The spirit of transformation is born.
SYNOPSIS
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A journey into the heart of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest where the self-claimed Huni Kuin (meaning true people) are undergoing a remarkable cultural renaissance. Enduring decades of slavery and oppression, they were once forbidden to live their true identity.
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Over the past 20 years, guided by the spiritual leader Ninawá Pai da Mata and other revered figures, these communities of the Humaitá Indigenous Land have prayed and strengthened their culture, remembering and practicing their ancient ways.
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Today, they stand at a cultural zenith - a tale of unwavering resilience and fortitude emanating from the heart of the Amazon, now shared and narrated by the Huni Kuin themselves, resonating across the world in these transformative times.
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MAIN INFO
A FILM ABOUT AND BY
The Huni Kuin people, headed by the spiritual chief Ninawá Pai da Mata together with elders, men, women and youngsters who shared some of their mysteries and way of life beyond what the eyes can see.
PRODUCED BY
Bem-te-vi Cultural Productions, an independent Brazilian nomad film company focusing at ethnographic documentaries that preserves ancestral cultures and diverse perspectives on the world. Directed and shot by the filmmakers Lara Jacoski and Patrick Belem while they have lived and experienced the Huni Kuin way of life, registering the cultural renaissance of this people.
Support of Brazilian Content (BR) / Cinema Paradiso (BR) / Cinema do Brasil (BR) / Hinterland (NO)
This project wouldn't be possible without the contribution of so many kind souls who have supported the project and the Huni Kuin culture through crowdfunding, which we give many thanks.
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Eskawata Kayawai has had an independent distribution for the past two years.
Accepted in 38 festivals in 18 countries, receiving 13 awards so far.
The film had a 4 long month tour with 45 screenings in Europe and USA in 37 cities,
plus screenings all over the world in universities, theatres, cinemas, communities...
sharing the movie in indigenous territories in Brazil counting 10+ exhibitions.
“An intimate portrayal of a people feeling the power of their lineage of relatedness with the natural world. May this heartfelt beauty be preserved and reawakened in all who take the time to see and hear. Thank you to all who bring this beauty to the wider world”
- Dr. Kerri Welch Oregon, USA
“The natural, organic pacing of the films chapters mirrors the meandering of a river through the forest, the cinematography and soundscape are a nutritious feast for the eyes and ears, and the cast of characters on display are given an intimate container to share their story with both strength and vulnerability.”
- Joseph Mays / Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative of the Americas Program Director USA
“Eskawata Kayawai offers a powerful testament to the resilience and cultural renaissance of the Huni Kuin people in the Brazilian Amazon.”
- Franco Blandi, Director of Nebrodi Film Festival, Italy.
“Mesmerizing! The film brings us deep into the jungle to the authentic sharing of the indigenous people so openly” - Stefanie Frank / Director of ESKFF Nest Healing Arts Retreat Center in Woodstock, US
THE HUNI KUIN PEOPLE
The Kaxinawá people, self-named Huni Kuin (which means true people) are the most populous indigenous group in Acre with 16 thousand individuals in Brazil, and 2 thousand people in Peru rainforest.
The film takes place at the Huni Kuin villages of Kaxinawá Humaitá River Indigenous Land, demarcated in 1996, located at the Humaitá river that flows in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon forest, Acre state.
The indigenous land has 127.383 hectares with 99% of forest, giving home to 7 villages and 2 placements, which were also contemplated during the film. The main village where the research and the film was made is called Novo Futuro (New Future Village), a four day boat ride from the nearest city, Tarauacá.
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The Huni Kuin people have been contacted for about a century and have gone through various phases of suffering, narrowly escaping extinction. Some of them who fled to Peru and to the farthest lands in Acre were capable of maintaining community life and the chain of transmission of ritual knowledge completely interwoven with the rainforest and its wildlife without interruption, while the groups who stayed in Brazil were obliged to live shattered in small settlements, following the logic of rubber extraction, recently recovering from decimation, striving to recover and pass on their diverse knowledge of the forest to future generations so that it will not be lost.
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Their culture is guided by its cosmopolitics who comes from their ancestral stories - such as the ancestral boa constrictor that taught the secrets of life in constant balance with other beings; Its artistic practices based on the shamanistic cosmology of the kenes which are the sacred geometry which is performed a graphic design of deep knowledge as a key that opens the way for the understanding of life and visions of ayahuasca combined with traditional songs; And its rituals, especially the nixi pae (ayahuasca) a sacred tea which reveals the mysteries of life, the forest, and each person.
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SCREENINGS
After our journey at the film festivals and independent tour, reaching more thank 100k views,
we are now preparing to reach a broader audience.
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In October 2025 we hope to have the film available for POV, together with side materials,
such as a foreword from the directors, with a sharing in the end, plus many other support materials.
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For now, we are still open for screenings organized in partnership with other people worldwide.
And we continue to apply to film festivals and looking ways on how to distribute to a wider audience.
We have the following subtitles available: ENG/ESP/FR/IT/CA/CZ.
Contact us about distribuition here > contato@bemteviproducoes.com.br
Our choice is to share the film in our presence - online or presencial, as we have been observing how in recent years the theme of guide plants has spread strongly, very quickly and with little information. We feel a strong responsibility and respect for the theme of the film, the Huni Kuin people, to share this message with great care, bringing awareness instead of supporting the illusion into fantasy.
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Looking forward to share the film beyond, and the vision of transformation trough ancestry.
Soon we hope the film will be available for public screenings. ​
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PRESS KIT
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Download the poster above and our press kit here:
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SUPPORT THE HUNI KUIN
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Consider supporting the Huni Kuin and/or one of our following projects related to indigenous and traditional peoples, documenting ancestral wisdom related to natural wisdom
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The Huni Kuin are constantly collecting funds to make their projects happen in order to improve their quality of life, provide for their basic needs, generate income and foment their prosperity.
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Support today by using the e-wallets availale bellow or drop us an email at contato@bemteviproducoes.com.br
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Use the QR codes or
connet via our account
larajacoski@gmail.com
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