| Film Type | |
|---|---|
| Genre |
Fantasy, Adventure
|
| Duration |
90 minutes
|
| Language |
Portuguese, Spanish
|
| Primary Age Group |
Teens (13-17)
|
| Shooting Locations |
Rio de Janeiro
Amazonic Forest
Peru
|
| Country of Origin |
Brazil
|
| Category |
Aira follows the journey of a young indigenous girl living in the Wada village, deep in the Amazon rainforest. Surrounded by rivers, lagoons, and mystical creatures, Aira is chosen by the spirits of the jungle to become a Yatamalo, a female shaman. The village is teeming with nature beings, talking trees, walking ecosystems, and animals that dream of their past lives from the Jurassic era.
Aira's grandfather, Aritama, is a powerful shaman who guides her through the challenges of jungle life and shamanic transformation. As she confronts spirits, diseases, storms, and the ghost of her grandmother, Aira discovers her true purpose with the help of the village’s youth, the spirits, and other shamans. Through these trials, Aira uncovers secrets that set her on the path to a new destiny.
Key Crew
Máncel Martínez, Director, screenwriter and producer
Marue Carien Bastos, Producer
Arturo Almanza Cinematographer
Pablo Chasseraux Cinematographer
Juan Quintáns, Production Sound Mixer
Tashi Trieu, Colorist
Álvaro Rodríguez, Actor
Laura Cardoso, Actress
Ary Fontoura, Actor
Unique Selling Points
Cultural Immersion: Aira offers a rare cinematic exploration of the Amazon's indigenous cultures and mythologies. Featuring mystical beings and rarely seen creatures, the film immerses audiences in the spiritual beliefs and traditions of the Amazon’s indigenous communities.
Esteemed Cast:
- Álvaro Rodríguez as Aritama: An award-winning Colombian actor with accolades such as Best Actor at the Macondo Awards and the New York Latin American Film Festival.
- Laura Cardoso as Mayaku Kama: A renowned Brazilian actress, recipient of the Order of Cultural Merit from the Brazilian government.
- Ary Fontoura as Captain Caput: A Brazilian drama legend with several national acting awards, including the Mário Lago Trophy.
Environmental Message: The film showcases the Amazon as a living entity, emphasizing the vital connection between humans and nature, with a focus on preserving biodiversity and indigenous knowledge.
Visually Stunning: Utilizing advanced technologies like motion capture and artificial intelligence, the film creates vivid, immersive experiences of the Amazon's landscape and mystical creatures.
Universal Themes: Aira’s journey of self-discovery touches on identity, tradition, and empowerment, resonating with diverse audiences around the world.
Market Opportunity
Aira targets a global audience increasingly drawn to stories about cultural diversity, indigenous wisdom, and environmental conservation. With strong themes of nature and sustainability, the film has the potential to connect with young audiences, families, and eco-conscious consumers. It also aligns well with the current demand for socially relevant content from global streaming platforms.
With a rich narrative steeped in Amazonian mythology, an environmental message, and a visually captivating experience, Aira is poised to attract a diverse and engaged audience. Through strategic marketing, thoughtful product placement, and a strong distribution plan, the film has the potential for both critical and commercial success. It will spark important conversations around environmental conservation and indigenous culture while offering an immersive adventure for global audiences.
| Budget |
$1.3 million
|
|---|---|
| Amount Raised |
$237,444
|
| Contact Link |
Unique Selling Points
- Diverse or Underrepresented Voices
- This film brings forward diverse and underrepresented voices, primarily through an indigenous and female perspective, offering a view rarely explored in mainstream narratives. Indigenous Perspective and Cultural Authenticity: The protagonist, Aira, embodies indigenous life in the Amazon, offering audiences a unique worldview deeply rooted in ancient traditions. Her spiritual and emotional journey allows viewers to understand the complexities of being indigenous in an increasingly globalized world, where ancestral practices, beliefs, and ways of life face constant pressure to adapt or disappear. This type of representation is rare, especially in major productions, and allows audiences to appreciate and learn from the richness of Amazonian cultures. Female Leadership and Representation of Female Shamans: By focusing on a young girl destined to become a shaman, the film highlights female spiritual leadership, something rarely depicted in indigenous or mainstream narratives. Female shamans hold an important role in some Amazonian cultures but are often made invisible. Aira, as a Yatamalo, embodies this sacred feminine power, challenging gender stereotypes and underscoring the vital role of women in preserving ancestral knowledge and connecting with the spiritual world. Intergenerational Connection and Elder Wisdom: Aira’s grandfather, Aritama, personifies the importance of elders as keepers of ancestral knowledge. In many indigenous cultures, elders are sources of wisdom and play a central role in educating younger generations. This representation contrasts with modern society, where the voices of the elderly are often undervalued, and it emphasizes the respect and intergenerational transmission essential to indigenous communities. Deep Connection with Nature: By integrating forest spirits, mystical animals, and personified natural elements, the film allows nature itself to have a voice, reflecting the indigenous view that everything possesses life and spirit. This ecological perspective, in which humans and nature are inseparably linked, challenges the Western utilitarian view of nature and promotes a powerful message about environmental preservation. Identity Challenges and Cultural Resilience: As Aira faces her transformation into a shaman, she symbolizes the struggle of indigenous communities to preserve their identity amid the pressures of modernity. This theme resonates with the experiences of indigenous peoples worldwide, who strive to protect their cultures while facing marginalization and threats to their territory and way of life. By addressing these underrepresented voices, the film enriches cinematic storytelling with a multiplicity of perspectives, encouraging empathy and offering a deeper, more sensitive view of the cultural and spiritual diversity that exists in the Amazon and among indigenous cultures worldwide.
- Strong International Appeal
- The emotional appeal of this film lies in Aira’s journey of self-discovery and connection to her ancestral indigenous roots. As a young girl chosen to become a Yatamalo—a shaman bearing the spiritual knowledge and responsibility of her village—Aira faces a series of internal and external challenges that reflect universal dilemmas: coming of age, embracing responsibility, and the search for belonging. The relationship between Aira and her grandfather, Aritama, is another powerful emotional point, as he not only guides her on her spiritual path but also embodies indigenous wisdom, love, and tradition. Through him, Aira learns the value of her cultural identity amidst the rich biodiversity of the Amazon, in a world that often marginalizes or undervalues these heritages. This bond highlights the transmission of ancestral knowledge and the deep love between generations. Furthermore, the presence of supernatural elements—such as the spirits of the forest and mythical animals—enriches the emotional narrative, symbolizing the profound communion and respect between indigenous people and nature. The film invites audiences to experience Aira’s mystical world and feel the emotional weight of becoming the guardian of a threatened legacy as she finds her place in this life cycle. Thus, the film touches on themes of growth and maturity as well as the urgency of preserving cultures and knowledge at risk. It’s a universal story of courage and connection to the natural world, filled with spirituality and respect for cultural roots, offering a rich and immersive visual and emotional experience.
- Social or Cultural Relevance
- The social and cultural relevance of this film is profound, as it offers a rare opportunity to portray the life, spirituality, and challenges faced by indigenous communities in the Amazon. In a context where indigenous knowledge and ancestral traditions are constantly threatened by external forces, the film acts as a bridge for understanding and valuing an ancient culture. Firstly, it gives visibility to indigenous voices, authentically representing their rituals, beliefs, and relationship with nature. Through Aira and her journey to become a shaman, audiences gain unique insight into the rainforest and its spiritual and natural inhabitants. This fosters a deeper connection to the Amazon, not only as an ecosystem vital to the planet but as the spiritual and cultural home of its native peoples. Moreover, the film addresses the issue of cultural preservation. Aira's struggle to protect her village’s spiritual legacy mirrors the broader struggle many indigenous cultures face today to survive amid globalization and deforestation. By depicting this resistance and cultural resilience, the film inspires respect for traditional wisdom and underscores the importance of protecting both indigenous knowledge and the environment in which it is rooted. Culturally, the film also challenges stereotypes, offering a narrative where indigenous people are the protagonists of their own stories. Rather than being portrayed as distant or exotic figures, they are shown with complexity, courage, and a wisdom from which the modern world has much to learn. Thus, the film not only elevates the value of indigenous heritage but also serves as a tool for education, empathy, and awareness of the importance of biodiversity and traditional cultures. It allows audiences to understand the invaluable worth of the Amazon and its indigenous inhabitants, promoting the conservation of a heritage that is both cultural and environmental.