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DEATH OF AN AMAZON RIVER

ILHA DO BANANAL - A MORTE DAS ÁGUAS

Documentary - Pre-Production 2025

A documentary that weaves together the stories of Indigenous and traditional communities and the endangered species of fauna and flora on the world’s largest freshwater river island, located in the heart of Brazil and threatened by predatory economic interests.

- Year of production
- 2025
- Genres
- Documentary, Social issues, Environmental
- Countries
- BRAZIL
- Languages
- BRAZILIAN-PORTUGUESE
- Budget
- 1 - 3 M$
- Duration
- 90 mn
- Producer(s)
- Eva PEREIRA (CUNHÃ PORÃ FILMES), Paulo BOCCATO
- Synopsis
- Ilha do Bananal is the world’s largest freshwater river island, located at the boundary between the Amazon Rainforest and Brazil’s Cerrado. A vital ecological sanctuary with one of the greatest biodiversities on the planet, it has held the status of Brazilian environmental reserve since 1959 and UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1993. Yet, one of the world’s greatest environmental treasures is now threatened by what is being called the “death of its waters.” Warnings from environmentalists, experts, and NGOs have echoed for decades. A foretold tragedy spread by the media, yet ignored by authorities.
  The cry for help from riverside Indigenous and traditional Quilombola communities is constantly silenced by economic interests. What lies behind the ongoing death of the lush and majestic Bananal Island? Is it the unregulated use of its waters by agribusiness? Cattle ranching without proper management? Predatory hunting and fishing? The only concrete reality so far is the total neglect of the country toward its environmental responsibility.
  The crew will embark on a 60-day expedition across the entire island (twenty thousand square kilometers), documenting the disappearing Araguaia and Javaés rivers, the endangered species, and giving a voice to the communities that already consider themselves orphans of an island on the brink of losing its most valuable resource: water.