On November 17th, IRI Brazil premiered the film Amazônia Forever as part of the program “Religious Leaders in Defense of Forests and Sustainable Development.”, in Belém, where COP30 is taking place. The event offered an immersive experience grounded in reflection, spirituality, and dialogue on the crucial role of religious traditions in responding to the urgent threats facing the Amazon rainforest.
Following the international success of Amazônia Viva – winner of Best 360° VR Film at the Barcelona Planet Film Festival – filmmaker Estevão Ciavatta returns with Amazônia Forever, a powerful blend of science, art, and spirituality that denounces the destruction of the rainforest and calls for its regeneration.
In the film, Raquel Tupinambá, an Indigenous leader of the Tupinambá people of Surucuá, guides viewers on a poetic journey that begins in landscapes scarred by mining and fire and unfolds into a reflection on Earth’s deep history. Through striking imagery contrasting devastation with the beauty of the Tapajós National Forest, the film warns that continued deforestation could push the planet back toward a primordial desert state. It reaffirms that preserving, restoring, and supporting those who protect the Amazon is essential for the survival of both the forest and humanity.
This is the second virtual-reality film developed by IRI Brazil. The first, Amazônia Viva, released in October 2022, has already reached thousands of people in Brazil and abroad, becoming a key tool for training and raising awareness about forest protection and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Through this new film, IRI Brazil strengthens its ongoing mission to protect the Amazon, support its guardians, and inspire worldwide action for the preservation of life in all its forms.
