EXCLUSIVE: Area23a has acquired We Are Guardians, an urgent documentary on Indigenous defenders of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil produced by Fisher Stevens’ Highly Flammable, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way.
Area23a is set to release the film theatrically on June 6 beginning in Los Angeles, followed by a nationwide 50 city theatrical screening tour. Amazon will be releasing We Are Guardians imminently in Germany and the U.K. The film is directed by Edivan Guajajara, co-founder of Mídia Indígena, Brazil’s leading Indigenous-led journalism collective, and environmental filmmakers Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman.
‘We Are Guardians’
Area23a
We Are Guardians follows Tembé and Guajajara forest guardians of Brazil “in their fight to protect the Amazon Rainforest from destruction,” according to a release. “Shot in a close, character-driven vérité style, the film explores the complex intersections of politics, history, economics, and science, shedding light on the global implications of deforestation in one of the world’s most vital ecosystems.”
Stevens, the Oscar-winning producer of The Cove, said in a statement, “With the current administration gutting the EPA and NOAA, along with decimating climate protections, the message and impact of We Are Guardians to protect our world’s lungs is more vital and urgent than ever before.”
Area23a owner Kirt Eftekhar commented, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the teams at Highly Flammable, Appian Way, Random Good, and the filmmakers behind We Are Guardians. This visually stunning film—made for the big screen experience—offers communities across North America a unique opportunity to come together, spark impactful discussion, and take part in the mission to protect the Amazon.”
A deforested section of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil seen in ‘We Are Guardians’
Area23a
The pace of deforestation in Brazil’s rainforest slowed between 2023-2024, but in that time frame it still lost close to 2,500 square miles – roughly the size of the state of Delaware.
“We Are Guardians is a prayer for the earth, for humanity, for connection and an appeal to the whole of human society at a time of deep polarization,” said directors Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman. “This film not only introduces us to the forest guardians in the Brazilian Amazon, but also to the loggers, farmers, and ranchers who must be included in this important conversation.”
Logging in the Amazon Rainforest seen in ‘We Are Guardians’
Area23a
Previously, ZDF Studios’ Off the Fence acquired worldwide rights to We Are Guardians, excluding North America and Latin America. The film was acquired by Netflix in 2024 for a release across Latin America.
“Through the release to date and the impact campaign’s fundraising efforts, We Are Guardians has already provided meaningful support directly to the forest guardians, begun reforestation and is now positioned to provide even greater support,” the release states. “The theatrical release will significantly help us invite new, larger audiences to contribute/join this effort.”
“We are so delighted to see the impact this film has had in supporting the Amazon Rainforest and its guardians,” said Jennifer Davisson of Appian Way. “While there has been significant reforestation efforts and guardian training achievements, our work does not stop here. Through the North American theatrical release of this film, we will continue to amplify the voices of these indigenous communities and activate future generations of activists.”
Director Edivan Guajajara said, “We Are Guardians was just a seed…real and definitive impact in the Amazon was always the ultimate goal. The impact campaign is an extension of my life and my people’s way of life, dedicated to the protection of the Amazon Rainforest and its guardians.”
Fisher Stevens, Zak Kilberg and Maura Anderson of Highly Flammable produced the documentary along with filmmaker Chelsea Greene of One Forest. Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar-winning actor and activist, serves as executive producer with Jennifer Davisson and Phillip Watson of Appian Way Productions, in addition to Christopher Gebhardt and Randy Gebhardt of Random Good, Bruce Cohen, Edivan Guajajara, Flay Guajajara and Erisvan Bone Guajajara of Mídia Indígena, Rob Grobman, Iz Web, Luiza Krapels, and Marco Krapels. Co-executive producers are Conscious Good, Michael Grimm, Brigit Grimm, Heather Conforto Beatty and Scott Beatty.
Area23a, based in Portland, OR, is an “event-driven theatrical distribution and marketing company” founded in 2009. Distribution credits include the Prime Video release Common Ground (dir. Josh and Rebecca Tickell); Fantastic Fungi (dir. Louie Schwartzberg); Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me (dir. James Keach); HEAL (dir. Kelly Noonan Gores); and Revenge of the Electric Car (dir. Chris Paine).
Content shared from deadline.com.