Amazonian cinema continues to blaze new trails around the world. The film “El Río de los Espíritus”, directed by the Tawna Collective, has been selected for the 57th edition of Visions du Réel, held in Nyon. This is a historic milestone: it is the first time an Ecuadorian Amazonian production has been included in this category at one of the world’s most prominent documentary film festivals.
Out of more than 3,700 submitted films, the documentary was chosen from among the 160 selected works and will compete in the 2026 international section for medium-length and short films, within the Poussières d’empires category.
A narrative from within the Amazon
The film was produced in collaboration with the Honnold Foundation and the Kara Solar Foundation, on the territory of the Achuar people, located between the provinces of Pastaza and Morona Santiago.
From there, “El Río de los Espíritus” weaves a deeply intimate and political narrative. It not only highlights the threats facing these communities—such as the potential construction of roads that fragment the territory—but also proposes alternatives born from the Amazon itself, where life, culture, and balance with nature are central.
“We are happy to come from the Amazon to present our film, which is more than just a film—it is life within our territories,” says Sani Montahuano, co-founder of the collective.
The river as a path of resistance and hope
The story follows Luciano Peas, a young Achuar technician leading an innovative solar-powered river transport project. His initiative arises in response to a concrete threat: the possible construction of a highway that would jeopardize the integrity of the rainforest and the community fabric.
In this context, the river is not merely a geographical feature but a spiritual guide. Through an ancestral legend about a fish that dwells in its depths, the film intertwines worldview, technology, and territory. The solar canoes emerge as a concrete alternative that connects communities without destroying the environment, proposing an energy transition with an Amazonian identity.
The documentary, thus, is not limited to denunciation. It is also an affirmation that solutions can arise from the people themselves, strengthening autonomy, peace, and the care of our Common Home.
Amazonian narratives in dialogue with the world
The Tawna Collective, founded in 2017, is composed of Sápara, Kichwa, and mestizo artists. Their approach is deeply anti-colonial and committed to building their own narratives from within the territories, combining film, photography, and living archives, as well as educational initiatives with communities.
Their work has already reached international stages such as the Amazon Biennial, the Cuenca Biennial, and festivals like EDOC, the Toronto Film Festival, and the Vancouver LQFF. Additionally, they participated in National Geographic’s Storytellers program with the documentary Allpamanda, which received recognition at EDOC. Soon, they will bring their work to the Ecuador Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
A Sign of Hope for the Amazon
The presence of “El Río de los Espíritus” at Visions du Réel represents not only a cinematic achievement but also a milestone for Amazonian voices seeking to be heard around the world.
In line with the path of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), this experience reaffirms the importance of promoting and supporting narratives that emerge from the people, that defend life, and that propose concrete alternatives in the face of the multiple crises the region is facing.
In this context, cinema becomes a space for encounter, memory, and prophecy. A window from the Amazon to the world… and from the world to the heart of the jungle.