Amazon forest

In 1976, when Brazil was torn and bitterly divided politically, I picked up my old knapsack and joined a group of young journalists who decided to see the magnificent universe born from the Amazon River, its affluents, and forests within forests. The most important source of clean water, rich soil, never-ending waves of trees and grass, and masses of birds, snakes, butterflies, jaguars, and monkeys.

Amanda Santana had no idea that one day she would launch a successful, sustainable, environmentally supportive business that would bring to light the talent and culture of indigenous artists of the Amazon Rainforest.   A makeup artist born in Rio de Janeiro, trained in Los Angeles, and working with Brazilian film and TV projects, Santana met her future business partner, anthropologist Fernando Niemeyer and, in 2010, decided to join him on a visit to one of the Amazon territories, dedicated to the Kraô nation.

Mixing dramatization and documentary, The Last Forest depicts the indigenous Yanomami tribe’s way of life - and their struggle to preserve it. Brazilian filmmaker Luiz Bolognesi’s latest documentary, The Last Forest, was released on Netflix in 2021.