‘Ex-Shaman’ is awarded in Berlin

Last Saturday (02/24), Ex-Pajé, the new feature film by Luiz Bolognesi, was the big winner of the Special Jury Prize for Documentaries in the Panorama section at Berlinale 2018. During its world premiere at the festival (02/17), the director released the previously unpublished Manifesto of the Indigenous Peoples and Leaders of Brazil, calling for an end to ethnocide, intolerance, and disrespect.

Bolognesi celebrated the visibility gained by a film that addresses such socially relevant issues: "I am very happy. This award, within such an important festival, will ensure that the voices of the Pajés and the spirits of the Forest are heard around the world." The project invites the audience to experience the reality of an indigenous village today, incorporating a rich discussion about cultural preservation. As stated in the manifesto itself: "Today, we are facing many crises—ecological, economic, political. Our fragile democracy has been attacked, and indigenous territories are being invaded and plundered."