Yawanawá
Categories
Ava Creative
Client
Private
Project
Kairau
Year
2024
My work with the Yawanawá people was rooted in presence, listening and respect. As Director of Photography, my role was not simply to capture images, but to enter their territory with sensitivity — understanding that every gesture, every color, every silence carries ancestral meaning. The Amazon is not a backdrop; it is a living being. Filming within the Yawanawá community meant aligning my creative process with their rhythms, their stories and their relationship with the forest.
My work with the Yawanawá people was rooted in presence, listening and respect. As Director of Photography, my role was not simply to capture images, but to enter their territory with sensitivity — understanding that every gesture, every color, every silence carries ancestral meaning. The Amazon is not a backdrop; it is a living being. Filming within the Yawanawá community meant aligning my creative process with their rhythms, their stories and their relationship with the forest.
The cinematography was guided by the depth of Yawanawá ritualistic life. Their use of color, body painting, songs and ceremonies shaped the visual direction of the project. Light and movement were approached with the intention of honoring their worldview — one where spiritual and physical realms coexist. Instead of imposing an external aesthetic, I allowed the forest, the river and the community to dictate the natural palette, framing and tempo. The result was an imagery that feels immersive, respectful and true to their cosmology.
The cinematography was guided by the depth of Yawanawá ritualistic life. Their use of color, body painting, songs and ceremonies shaped the visual direction of the project. Light and movement were approached with the intention of honoring their worldview — one where spiritual and physical realms coexist. Instead of imposing an external aesthetic, I allowed the forest, the river and the community to dictate the natural palette, framing and tempo. The result was an imagery that feels immersive, respectful and true to their cosmology.
Working with the Yawanawá taught me that filmmaking is a bridge — a way to share stories without taking ownership of them. My responsibility was to represent their culture with integrity, ensuring that every frame amplified their voice rather than overshadowing it. The experience reinforced my belief that visual storytelling becomes powerful when it honors the senses, the land and the people who inhabit it. Through this project, I carried forward not only images, but a renewed commitment to filming as a form of presence, respect and connection.
Working with the Yawanawá taught me that filmmaking is a bridge — a way to share stories without taking ownership of them. My responsibility was to represent their culture with integrity, ensuring that every frame amplified their voice rather than overshadowing it. The experience reinforced my belief that visual storytelling becomes powerful when it honors the senses, the land and the people who inhabit it. Through this project, I carried forward not only images, but a renewed commitment to filming as a form of presence, respect and connection.
