Alberto Álvares’s short film explores the interpretations of fire dreams – which, according to the traditions of the Guarani-Nhandewa people, are bad omens of imminent disease. Elders emphasise the importance of preserving trees that breathe in smoke and protect us from the terrible coming sickness, invoking a collective reflection on the way we treat the environment.

The second Álvares film on the programme presents testimony from the elders of the Yhowy village in Guaíra, southern Brazil, who share their knowledge about the origins of the Guaraní way of being and their belief that the soul is the connection between the body and the spirit.

The Guarani-Kaiowá peoples’ struggle for land rights gained international recognition after the release of a joint letter in 2012, protesting against the assaults and advances of Brazilian agribusiness. Co-directed by 10 filmmakers, Ava Yvy Vera transforms the act of filming into a process of dialogue both in front of and behind the camera, documenting the history of resistance and the reclaiming of the territory where the Guarani-Kaiowá live today.