We Are Guardians

Opened Monday, June 5, 2023

Discussion to follow screening with filmmakers Edivan Guajajara, Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman, activist and film participant Puyr Tembé, plus Angela Martinez, Amazon Defenders Fund Director at Amazon Watch.

As the Indigenous Brazilian forest guardians of the Tenetehara fend off attacks from illegal loggers, miners, and exporters, this global story shares what happens when Indigenous rights, land stewardship, environmental science, and political corruption converge, leaving the fate of the Amazon and it’s Indigenous communities in the balance.

Thousands of people are illegally setting up camp on protected land in the Brazilian Amazon, killing centuries-old trees for export and mining rare resources. Directed by Indigenous activist Edivan Guajajara and environmental filmmakers Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman, We Are Guardians artfully shares the stories of the people impacted by this issue. We meet Indigenous Brazilian forest guardian Marçal Guajajara and activist Puyr Tembé who are fighting to protect their home from deforestation; an illegal logger struggling to make ends meet who feels he has no other financial choice to survive; and a landowner who is dedicated to preserving the rich ecosystem within his land by relentlessly seeking action from local authorities, with no answers. Folding insight into the economic drivers behind the continued deforestation, this films’ beauty lies in its intimate, character-focused storytelling, providing a human entry-point into a critical situation that ultimately impacts us all.

“We Are Guardians is a poignant portrayal of the diverse group of people on the front line of efforts to save the Brazilian Amazon. The filmmakers expertly dissect the economic drivers that fuel large-scale environmental destruction, while exposing the corruption and partisan politics that enable it. A loud call to action.” –  Luciana Téllez Chávez, researcher, Environment and Human Rights Division, Human Rights Watch 

Screening as part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2023.

The panel following the screening will be live-captioned.
Content Advisory: This film contains images of dead bodies, threatening and offensive language, animal cruelty, and mass action in crowded areas.

  • Country USA
  • Language Portuguese, Tupi with English Subtitles
  • Running Time 82 minutes
  • Distributor Human Rights Watch FF
  • Director Edivan Guajajara, Chelsea Greene, Rob Grobman
  • Accessibility Descriptive Audio, Open Captioning

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.