Film Recommendation: UÝRA: THE RISING FOREST (directed by Juliana Curi)

Post image for Film Recommendation: UÝRA: THE RISING FOREST (directed by Juliana Curi)

by Nia Liat on June 17, 2022

in Film

WORLD PREMIERE AT THE 2022 FRAMELINE FILM FESTIVAL
Wednesday, June 22nd @ 8:30pm
The New Parkway Theater
Frameline Tickets

“Magical and rhythmic, this film moves beyond genre and engages viewers
on an emotional plane. It’s church, ancestry, and beautifully sacred.” — BRIC TV

“The most intersectional film of the year.”
— Beadie Findie, Founding Director at Doc Society

Uýra is the alter-ego of Emerson, a non-binary performance artist and ecologist of indigenous origin living in Manaus, Brazil. Marginalized as an Indigenous, queer, and trans person, Uýra travels through the Amazon on a journey of self-discovery using performance art and exquisite transformations — often created from materials found in the nearby forest — to spread their message of environmental protection and promote LGTBQ+ rights.

In Brazil, a country that kills the highest number of trans, indigenous, and environmentalist youth worldwide, Uýra leads a rising movement through arts and education while fostering unity and providing inspiration for the LGBTQIA+ and environmental movements. In the Amazon, Uýra visits Indigenous villages to share ancestral knowledge with the youth and bring awareness to the importance of identity and place, at a time when both are under attack from Brazil’s repressive political regime.

Through dance, poetry, and visually stunning costumes and makeup, Uýra boldly confronts historical racism, transphobia, and environmental destruction. Their search for their own identity and their struggle to bring awareness to the interconnected relationship between humans and the environment — not to mention the direct link from structural racism to trans- and homophobia — lie at the heart of this poetic and eye-popping film.

RT: 70 Minutes | Not Yet Rated

 

UÝRA – THE RISING FOREST is directed by Juliana Curi, and written by Curi and Martina Sönksen. Produced by João Henrique Kurtz, Juliana Curi, Lívia Cheibub, Martina Sönksen, and Uýra Sodoma. Edited by Lívia Cheibub, Lucas Camargo De Barros, and Renan Cipriano. Cinematography by Thiago Moraes. Music by Nascuy Linares, featuring Josyara and Zahy Guajajara. A Story by Uýra Sodoma. A Production of Azores Filmes (Brazil) and Mama Wolf (USA), in co-production with Abou Farman with the support of Doc Society and BRIC Brooklyn.

World Premiere at the 2022 Frameline Film Festival

Wednesday, June 22nd at 8:30pm
The New Parkway Theater, Oakland, CA
June 24 – June 30
Streaming Encore – Available Online (U.S. Only)

Tickets + Passes
Frameline Tickets

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