7.2 /10 1 Votes
3/5 Amazon Starring Sarah Begum Production
company Sarah Begum Director Sarah Begum Produced by Sarah Begum | 8.5/10 IMDb Directed by Sarah Begum Edited by Sarah Begum Initial release 2013 Music director Nainita Desai Cinematography Frank Angelcyk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Music by Nainita Desai
Jez Spencer Release date 15 May 2013 (2013-05-15) (Cannes Film Festival)
12 June 2013 (2013-06-12) (Sheffield Doc/Fest) Similar The Traveler, Tears in Amazon, Amazonia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amazon souls official trailer 2015 new
Amazon Souls is a 2013 British documentary film directed, produced and presented by Sarah Begum. The film examines the impact of modernity on the culture of the Huaorani tribe in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest.
Contents
Summary
In 2010, at the age of 21, Sarah Begum travelled deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest, to live with the Huaorani tribe and immersed in their ancient way of life. Begum hunts with warriors, gathers with women, captures their stories and struggles whilst investigating into the impacts of oil exploitation on their land. She becomes one of the tribe, is made Queen and married to a warrior to create an alliance and send their message about protecting their land from exploitation.
Development
In 2009, Begum won a place at the Enterprising Student Awards for her then Amazon film idea, and was recognised as the only woman out of the first 10 specially selected participants on this award. The award funded her plane ticket to the Amazon and her volunteer fee for the first two weeks where she taught English to children in the Amazon schools for a charity organisation before travelling deeper into the jungle.
Begum produced, directed, presented then edited the film and funded the film through her life savings and private investors.
Release and reception
Amazon Souls premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival where it was accepted for its 'Short Film Corner'. The film was also selected for the 2013 Sheffield Doc/Fest Videoteque.
The film has been endorsed by rainforest charities; Sky Rainforest Rescue, Rainforest Alliance, Rainforest Foundation Fund, and Rainforest Concern, and celebrity adventurer Bear Grylls. The President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, recognised Begum's efforts to raise awareness of deforestation and oil exploitation in Yasuni National Park of the Ecuadorian Amazon basin.