“Eami” creates a unique entry into a little-known indigenous region by blending fact and fiction – Contenders Documentary

In the semi-documentary film Amya word that means both “forest” and “world” to the Ayoreo Totobiegosode indigenous people of Paraguay. The native landscape, shrinking due to deforestation, serves as a grounded but dreamy backdrop for a story that combines elements of fiction and non-fiction.

As Paraguayan filmmaker Paz Encina revealed during Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary panel, the inspired approach — which tells the fictional story of a 5-year-old girl who, like so many of her ilk before her, is forced to live with her only to be famous house as the modern world invades – emerged when she tried to convince the Ayoreo Totobiegosode to let her tell one of her stories on film.

“I went there looking for a love story in this community,” says Encina, who was told about a romantic local myth. “But it was quite difficult to get in touch with them. It’s not a very open community, so I had to do some work to connect with them once I got there. And then I asked them about the story and they said they know the story but they are not interested in telling that story. And I was a little shocked because I expected to know more.”

BOUND TOGETHER: Director Paz Encina talks about the trauma of separation from loved ones and the climate crisis in “Eami” – Contenders International

“I asked her, ‘What do you think you’d like to say?’ And they were very direct: they told me they wanted me to help them tell what happened to them – what happened to them when they had to leave the forest, what happened to them and their ancestors. Then began I’m doing this project with them which was a very small film which was smaller at the beginning I thought we could do about 40 minutes together, from there the film grew and grew and became Amy.”

Check back Wednesday for the panel video.