The Brazilian project VIDEO NAS ALDEIAS began its work with indigenous groups in Brazil in 1987 and still offers training today in the production of documentary films for various indigenous communities; from working with the camera to editing film material. The project was started with the goal of strengthening the cultural identity of Brazilian indigenous people by offering them the opportunity to represent themselves and to promote cultural exchange with the help of their productions. On the one hand, their films are made for their own culture, to document their traditions, customs, dances, rituals and everyday life. On the other hand, they are also meant to present their culture to other ethnic communities as well as nonindigenous society. (Eliane Fernandes Ferreira)
In 2000, VNA became itself an independent NGO. Its trajectory allowed the creation of important image archives about indigenous people in Brazil, and the production of over 70 films, most of which have received national and international awards.
“It is necessary to force the occidental world to recognize that there are other ways of seeing the world, of living and of thinking and that, consequently, there is another way of making films beyond the commonplace that is the television way.”
(Ruben Caixeta, Anthropologe und Direktor des Belo Horizonte Dokumentarfilmfestival)