Indigenous Brazilian Forest Protector in ‘We Are Guardians’ Doc Trailer

Indigenous Brazilian Forest Protector in ‘We Are Guardians’ Doc Trailer

by Alex Billington
May 8, 2025
Source: YouTube

“Gunmen or loggers will kill me for anything.” Horrifying! All because they’re defending their own land. An official trailer is available online for an inspiring documentary film titled We Are Guardians, following the Indigenous forest protectors of the Amazon. After playing at film festivals for the past 2 years, this is finally ready for release in theaters this summer. A poignant portrayal of the diverse group of native people who endeavour to save what is left of the Brazilian Amazon. It dissects the economic drivers that fuel large-scale environmental destruction, while exposing the corruption. These “guardians” risk their lives to fend off illegal loggers and land invaders. Shot in a close, character-driven vérité style, the film explores the elaborate intersections of politics, history, economics, and science, shedding delicate on the actual global implications of deforestation in one of the world’s most vital ecosystems. It’s extremely unhappy. Yet despite the tragedy, the film is trying to be a powerful story of hope and resilience amid an unfolding environmental crisis, as the Tembé and Guajajara people persist in their struggle to preserve their ancestral lands. I stand with them! Fight on.

Here’s the official trailer for Guajajara & Grobman & Greene’s doc We Are Guardians, from YouTube:

In the heart of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, thousands of people are unlawfully encroaching upon protected lands, devastating centuries-old trees for export and exploiting occasional resources from the area. It’s a critical issue that impacts us all. Enter Indigenous Brazilian forest guardian Marçal Guajajara and impassioned activist Puyr Tembé. Together they stand as unwavering sentinels, fighting tirelessly to shield their home from the relentless march of deforestation. In addition, we encounter an illegal logger, trapped in a desperate struggle to make ends meet, with no other means of survival; plus a determined landowner, committed to preserving the affluent ecosystem within his property, relentlessly seeking answers from local authorities, yet met with silence. Through this tapestry of perspectives, we see the economic connections to markets that link goods derived from the Amazon region to consumers around the world.

We Are Guardians is co-directed by filmmakers Edivan Guajajara, co-founder of Mídia Indígena, Brazil’s leading Indigenous-led journalism collective – and the two environmental filmmakers Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman, all making their first feature film together. Produced by Maura Anderson, Zak Kilberg, and Fisher Stevens. This initially premiered at the 2023 Hot Docs Film Festival a few years ago, and it also played at the Raindance & Santa Barbara Film Festivals. Area23a will debut We Are Guardians in select US theaters starting June 6th, 2025 this summer. For more info + more screenings visit the film’s official site.

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