With the theme Indigenous Filmmakers: Memory and Language, the 5th Art, Education and Culture Seminar at Centro Cultural Vale Maranhão begins this Wednesday (23) and will feature a program that highlights indigenous cinema as a tool for resistance, preservation of ancient languages and cultural affirmation.

Curated by researcher José Ribamar Bessa, the seminar brings together filmmakers, indigenous leaders, teachers, and artists at panel discussions, workshops, film screenings, and musical presentations.

The event reinforces indigenous leadership in audiovisual production, which for decades has transformed orality into image and sound to tell stories based on their own territories and experiences.

Representatives of the Awá Guajá, Gavião Akrãtikatêjê, Tembé Tenetehara and Guarani peoples participate. Among the program’s highlights are filmmakers Vincent Carelli and Alberto Álvares Guarani, who discuss cinema as an instrument of indigenous “reexistence”.