‘Aruanas’ premiers in New York
25-06-2019
Lead actress Tais Araújo attends the pre-screening event along with the world’s top environmental human rights defenders
After its successful premiere in London, ‘Aruanas’ arrives in New York and plays to a full house at the iconic Angelika Film Centre on Monday 24 July. The current timely theme of the series triggered a general atmosphere of excitement among the guests. With ten episodes, ‘Aruanas’ portrays the importance of the environmental defenders who risk their lives in the pursuit of equality, justice and a more sustainable world for future generations.
“It was a great honor to take part in this series. We were given a script packed with conflicts, thrills and emotional drama, all the right ingredients for a successful storytelling narrative. The story of these four women made me feel stronger, braver and more confident to invite the whole world to embark with us and our characters on this adventurous journey to protect the rainforest and biodiversity for the generations to come,” says Tais Araújo, who stars in the environmental thriller along with Debora Falabella, Leandra Leal, Camila Pitanga and Thainá Duarte.
The pre-screening event was attended by global organizations which are a reference in the field of environmental protection and human rights, as well as journalists and digital influencers. Among them was María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the UN General Assembly. “Everyone of us must be an Aruana, a watchdog of our rainforests. The series portrays the strength and determination of women, and the urge for all of us to embrace sustainability – may we all live life with dignity, based on everyday acts of generosity towards all human beings and other species of our planet,” she says.
As part of an unprecedented strategy, ‘Aruanas’ has mobilized activists from around the globe through the support and engagement of more than 20 international and national NGOs, such as Amnesty International, WWF-Brazil, Global Witness, UN Environment, UN Women, Open Society Foundations, Instituto Betty & Jacob Lafer, Rainforest Foundation, 350.org, ISA- Instituto Socioambiental, IPAM, IMAZON, Conectas, Justiça Global, ISER, Greenfaith, Oxfam Brazil and APIB.
For Felicity Von Suck, Direct Dialogue Coordinator for Greenpeace Brazil – technical partner of the series – “it is paramount to show that rainforests are worth far more standing than cut down and that activism goes from voluntary participation in large-scale environmental campaigns to the adoption of simple green practices in everyday life. We are honored to be a part of this campaign and are thrilled to carry the ‘Aruanas’ flag.”
According to writer Estela Renner, the series invites us all to dream of a more sustainable and equitable world. It is entertainment at the service of an important and pressing issue around the world, through the fostering of a global discussion about the preservation of forests and importance of the work carried out by environmental defenders. “The series talks about hope because fear is paralyzing, on the other hand hope is a fuel for engagement,” she says.
“‘Aruanas’ is more than a series that talks about activism. It is a story that will touch people’s hearts and minds; a story that will attract audiences and tug at people’s heart strings,” says Sergio Valente, Communications Director at Globo.
Written by Estela Renner and Marcos Nisti, in collaboration with Pedro de Barros, the series was directed by Carlos Manga Jr. and Estela Renner. Co-produced by Globo and Maria Farinha Filmes, ‘Aruanas’, an original Globoplay series, will premiere worldwide on 2 July in more than 150 countries, with subtitles in 11 different languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Turkish and Korean. The series will be made available on aruanas.tv, a platform powered by Vimeo, where it can be purchased for US$ 12, 90. From July to October, 50% of online sales will be donated to an initiative (to be revealed) designed to protect the Amazon rainforest.
About Globo
Being one of the world’s leading communications company requires great creativity, professionalism and investment in quality and innovation. Globo produces close to 3,000 annual hours of drama and entertainment, as well as over 3,000 hours of journalism. Programs, series and interviews with a high standard of quality that have received over 90 nominations in the International Emmy Awards and won 17 awards. The company has also had its works screened in renowned international festivals such as the Berlinale (Germany), Series Maria (France) and TIFF (Canada). Currently, the network covers 98.6% of Brazilian territory, reaching 99.5% of the population 122 affiliated broadcasting stations throughout the country. More than 90% of the network's programming is produced in-house, making Globo the country's largest job provider for artists, writers, journalists and producers. For more information: ttps://screening.globo.com/about.
About Maria Farinha Films
In its 10-years of existence, Maria Farinha Films has created series and films, such as “The Beginning of Life,” that advance social-environmental agendas. It is the first B Corp film production company in Latin America. mff.com.br