An urgent, on-the-ground view of the Uru-eu-wau-wau people's fight to protect their rainforest homeland in the Brazilian Amazon from encroaching settlers, loggers, and illegal farmers. Co-directed by Alex Pritz and filmed in collaboration with the Indigenous community, the documentary blends striking cinematography with vérité footage—much of it shot by the Uru-eu-wau-wau themselves.

At the center is Bitaté Uru-eu-wau-wau, a young leader using drones, GPS, and social media to track invaders, alongside activist Neidinha Bandeira. After the assassination of a land defender, the community grows more organized and determined. The film captures both Indigenous patrols monitoring deforestation and political organizing in villages and cities.

What sets The Territory apart is its nuanced portraits of settlers, poor farmers, and loggers working the forest edge. They are shown up close—hardworking but desperate individuals who share their fears, struggles, and dreams of land ownership. While their actions contribute to destruction, the film highlights how poverty, inequality, and weak governance push survival into conflict with sustainability.

A key strength of the film is its collaborative method, providing Indigenous people with cameras to document their own resilience and fight. This makes the film as much about reclaiming narrative power as protecting land.

Since its release, Brazil’s political landscape has shifted. Under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, protections have been partially restored and FUNAI re-empowered, though illegal encroachment remains a threat.

Best for older teens and adults. The film avoids graphic violence but deals with conflict and environmental loss. It is both a moving call to defend the Amazon and a layered portrait of the human struggles on all sides.