Our project aims to bring modern relevance, to the life stories and teachings of these ancient voices. As activists and journalists venture to the Amazon to cover human rights violations and environmental injustices, the public, if reached at all, is often exposed to tales of indigenous anger and protest. But rarely do we set out to explore what we can learn from traditional cultures. Rarely do we fully appreciate the diversity of thought and rich traditions of these remote communities. To allow them to share their wisdom in a time of so much need for new role models and inspiring stories and to preserve this living encyclopedia of life in nature, of hardship and of endurance, and the wisdom gained in the process.

1. Ancient Voices Healers of the Rainforest
lumbia and Peru reveal the mysteries of ancient plant-based medicines and
A Documentary Film and Social Enterprise
by Jose Marcio Dias and Gustav Alsina

2. re me mb e rs w he n the
w a s f ille d w it h a n im a ls .
he re me mb e rs w he n the
a n b la c k w it h c r u d e o il.
e e ms to re me mb e r
h in g , [ b u t ] M a r in a is o n e
la s t C o f á n w o m e n w h o r e m e m b e r how
a y o f he r a nc e s to rs .”
--San Francisco Chronicle
Cover Photo Credit
Marina Aguinda Lucitante, an elder of the Cofán tribe in Ecuador. ©Mitch Anderson

3. Photos to use
throughout

4. Executive Summary
Brining the unknown world of
plant-based healing and
spirituality as told by the elders
who keep the traditions alive
A study of the culture and life
stories of the people in the
background of the world wide
expansion of shamanic traditions
and ayahuasca based spiritual
practices. The elders who started
it all, their lives, their stories, their
families, their faces, their
medicine and the message they
leave for us in the hopes of a
better future.
In all shaman traditions, there are
those elders who become the
most known shamans, the healers
whose life may become similar to
a rock star’s lifestyle. Travel, fame,
dinero. And then there are those
who hold the traditions, who do
the dirty work in the background

5. Our project aims to bring modern relevance,
to the life stories and teachings of these
ancient voices.
As activists and journalists venture to the
Amazon to cover human rights violations and
environmental injustices, the public, if
reached at all, is often exposed to tales of
indigenous anger and protest.
But rarely do we set out to explore what we
can learn from traditional cultures. Rarely do
we fully appreciate the diversity of thought
and rich traditions of these remote
communities.
To allow them to share their wisdom in a
time of so much need for new role models
and inspiring stories and to preserve this
living encyclopedia of life in nature, of
hardship and of endurance, and the wisdom
gained in the process.
The project is to make a series of documentary films, focusing on the elders that helped the
movement begin. We will explore the lives and the knowledge of several simple and humble folk,
who through their work and life in the depths of the jungle in places like Mapia in the state of Acre
Brasil, a sustainable community of shamans from 8 to 80 years old resides.
Like in the high mountains in the Andes, curanderos of all ages offer their services to those lucky
enough or brave enough to seek.
With segments on the Santo Daime elders from communities in Mapia and Alto Santo, an
exploration of miraculous healings and stories of transformation and strength, then on to Peru,
where the traditional shamans hide in healing communities in the jungle, living a lifestyle of
harmony with nature and with the Cosmos.
Then on to Colombia, to meet with (Mauricio’s Elders), and learn about her magical healing potions
and how she keeps her community from loosing its identity in face of the imperialistic cultural
invasion and then an exploration of elders of european decent who devoted their lives to learning
the healing practices of ayahuasca and of the medicine plants and plant teacher.

6. Storyboard
Our project starts in Amsterdam, where we will document the story of and
European woman who had her death given as certain by doctors because of
a tumor, and who found the rainforest tradition of the santo daime and
ended up getting cured from her tumor and is still alive today, more than 20
years after.
From there we travel on to the Daime communities in the rainforest where
dozens of some of the most amazing and brilliant forest people live, some of
the elders who still are alive and kicking hold secret cures to old problems as
it was proven by my own daughter’s cure of asthma because of a simple,
casual conversation I had with a “caboclo da mata” (an old man from the
forest – a forest person).
The Daime was started because its founder Irineu Serra, got in contact with a
healer, “curandeiro” in the rainforest back in the beginning of the 20th
century, 1918 to be exact.
This curandeiro was a medicine man, one of the lucky holders of the secret
knowledge of this water of life, fortunate to have inherited this sacred
concoction from the Andes… and that’s where we head next, to Peru, to
meet Don Mateo and his sacred teachings of the cactus plants and the
Ayahuasca medicines and then on to Colombia to visit with an Ayahuasca
community.

7. Crew
Our crew will consist of Gustav Alsina, an accomplished film maker, producer and
set designer and Marcio Dias, film maker and medicine person who has been
working with the Santo Daime, Peruvian and Native American medicine
churches for over 20 years and other supporting crew, as a sound person and
production manager/assistant.
Consultants:
Mariciu (Colombia)
Freddy (Peru)
Demotier Souza (Brasil)

8. Project Components
The project will produce a series of
documentaries, registering and
documenting these fascinating life
stories. It will also produce up to 4
coffee table style photo books,
computer screen savers and stock
footage as well as recordings of
songs and icaros from these elders.
All profits from the products will be
dedicated towards a social security
fund for the health and support of
the communities that are featured.

9. A N C IE N T V O IC E S : H e a le r s o f t h e R a in f o r e s t
What if a film
Be Changed, Bring Change
Powerful documentary films have the unique ability
to transport us to distant realities and expand our
ould do more? perception of the world. Emotions run high, as we
empathize with those in need and rejoice with those
who succeed against the odds.
Whether we are persuaded by Al Gore of an
Inconvenient Truth, or witness the extreme artistry
of Man on Wire we are invariably changed by the
documentary experience.
After the film we rise from our seats eager to discuss
new understandings with friends. A few of us are
compelled to “do something,” but often struggle to
figure out exactly how to engage. Before we know
it, the energy evoked through the film fades and our
own lives rush back into focus.
So as filmmakers, we asked ourselves how could we
could make better use of these powerful emotions?
What could we do to bring lasting benefits to the
communities and people of Ancient Voices?
“
V oices
diences beyond awareness and entertainment
cipation
hange.
”

10. The shifting role of film
Entertain Society
Inform society
Transform society

11. A N C IE N T V O IC E S : H e a le r s o f t h e R a in f o r e s t
g documentary film producers and audiences with the social entrepreneurship community. The
How it works:
1 Watch the
2
film
Support a business
3 Preserve a
culture
Filmgoers join forces directly with the elders to support
research, sustainable harvesting and fair trade of rainforest resources.
With the rise of social media and the preference for video content online we have
seen advocacy organizations attempt to bridge the gap. Videos are developed to
inspire audiences to sign petitions or make donations. And in the case of Disney
Nature, a portion of proceeds are donated directly to an environmental non profit.
Ancient Voices takes a bold leap forward by directly linking documentary film
producers and audiences with the social entrepreneurship community. In this full
circle relationship, investors support the making of the film, filmgoers support the
launching of a social enterprise, community members create profitable businesses,
and sustainably harvested rainforest products are then sold on global markets.
Filmgoers not only enjoy the film, but they feel a strong sense of connecton and

12. People
Vibrant Cultural Traditions
raw
economically viable alternatives to the curr
Profit Planet
Equitable Community Enterprises Healthy Rainforest Ecosyste

13. A N C IE N T V O IC E S : H e a le r s o f t h e R a in f o r e s t
Rainforests contain an amazing abundance
of plant life. What's most exciting is that
scientists and researchers have only just
begun to uncover the medicinal qualities of
these plants, which offer new approaches to
health and healing.
Ancient Voices explores this vast untapped
resource through the perspective of
indigenous elders.

14. A N C IE N T V O IC E S : H e a le r s o f t h e R a in f o r e s t
l indigenous communities. But the key to successful sustainable harvesting lies in local ownership and operation
avities within the trunk, which can be harvested by tapping or drilling holes into the wood. It has long been emp
M e d ic in e E ne rg y C ra ft

15. A N C IE N T V O IC E S : H e a le r s o f t h e R a in f o r e s t
t.
ity and protects ecosystems.
ies real and viable alternative methods and markets of harnessing their resources in sustainable programs whic
ater income and profits to the land owner and country than any other unsustainable land usage. Raintree's harv
”

16. About the Amazon
The Amazon Rainforest, also known
as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle,
is a moist broadleaf forest that
covers most of the Amazon Basin of
South America.
More than half of the forest is
contained within Brazil, the rest of it
in Peru, Colombia, Venezuela,
Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname
and French Guiana, covering five
and a half million square kilometers,
or 1.4 billion acres.
The Amazon represents over half of

17. Socially Responsible Investors Mission Driven Organizations
Investments Grants
Film Production & Marketing
Audiences Film Societies
Ticket Sales Awards
RAW Business Development
RAW Community Enterprise

18. Why Now?
This project is timely because of the
nature of its subject. We feel a
sense of urgency in documenting
elders that have been around the
different traditions for so long, who
devoted their lives to it and
accumulated great wisdom from
doing so. Their heritage is one that
belongs to all of humanity, their
stories can inspire and transform a
generation so lost and devoid of
great examples to look up to.

19. Budget
Insert

20. Short Final Pitch with logo
and large image
The fact is this project can no longer
wait, as we continue to wait and
save money to start our filming,
other elders pass away or get sick
and we loose access to many
memorable stories and life
experiences that will no longer be
accessible to future generations.

21. A N C IE N T V O IC E S : H e a le r s o f t h e R a in f o r e s t