MONACO — On April 19, the Opera of Monte-Carlo will open its storied doors to a world far removed from its gilded elegance: the dense, vibrant heart of the Amazon rainforest. Here, the world premiere of NAWA SIA, The Secrets of the Amazon, a film-documentary by director Isabella Vieira, will unfold, supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. This is no mere cinematic event—it’s an immersion into the lives of Amazonian tribes, a window onto their traditions, their ancestral wisdom, and the fragile ecosystem they call home.
Photo credits: nawasia.movie
Vieira, known among the Amazon’s indigenous peoples as Nawa Sia—a name meaning “Star of Truth,” bestowed upon her by a community chief—brings to this project a voice that resonates with purpose. “The Amazon should not be a distant mirage,” she declares, “its preservation must be a shared responsibility.” Born into an indigenous lineage, she grew up steeped in the stories and traditions of her ancestors, lending her work an authenticity that pulses through every frame. This film is her return to those roots, a journey to capture the soul of what she calls “the green lung of the planet.”
For nearly two years, Vieira says, the images of NAWA SIA haunted her dreams, “elusive, like fragments of an ancient memory trying to reveal itself.” Bringing them to life was a challenge both technical and spiritual, a task she undertook over months of dedicated work. “NAWA SIA was born from an ancestral whisper, a deep echo resonating within me always,” she explains. “The Amazon is not something to be told; it must be lived, it must be listened to.” The content, she insists, was guided by nature, the spirits of the land, and the tribes who have guarded it for millennia—particularly the Huni Kuin, an indigenous people straddling Brazil and Peru.
Photo credits: nawasia.movie
Photo credits: nawasia.movie
Photo credits: nawasia.movie
Photo credits: nawasia.movie
Vieira herself is the film’s main character, her presence onscreen a personal testament to her time among these communities, living alongside those who embody her origins. “There are moments when life calls you back to essentials,” she reflects. “Returning to the Amazon was a necessity. The elders had told me, ‘When the time comes, you will know…’ It was time.” Through her lens, NAWA SIA becomes a portal, inviting viewers to feel the sacred bond between humanity and the living world—a bond she witnessed firsthand in the daily lives, beliefs, and intimate connection to nature of the tribes.
The stakes could not be higher. “The Earth speaks, and its guardians suffer in silence,” Vieira warns, pointing to the threats of deforestation and climate change that imperil the Amazon and its peoples. The Huni Kuin face the disappearance of vital resources, forced exodus, and the erosion of their traditions and cultural identity—realities that lend the film its urgency. This is where the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s support takes on profound meaning. “For nearly 20 years, the Foundation has been acting to preserve the planet through concrete projects and awareness initiatives,” says Olivier Wenden, its CEO and vice-president. “This film fits into this commitment, highlighting the crucial nezrole of the Huni Kuin in protecting the Amazon.”
Photo credits: Isabella Vieira Instagram.
Wenden underscores the forest’s broader significance: “As the largest tropical forest, it harbors exceptional biodiversity and supports millions of people. Deforestation and illegal activities are jeopardizing its balance. It is essential to raise awareness of the urgency related to its preservation, which must be organized in collaboration with local communities.” The foundation’s Forests and Communities initiative, launched in 2022, amplifies this mission by giving indigenous leaders a platform at international events—a mission NAWA SIA extends through its vivid imagery and testimony.
The premiere promises to be an extraordinary affair. The Opera of Monte-Carlo will host this sensory journey, its prestige amplifying the film’s reach. To mark the occasion, the facade of the Casino de Monte-Carlo will glow in the colors of the Amazon, a tribute to Chief Bené of the Huni Kuin, who passed away 26 days after filming, and to Vieira’s ancestors. “This exceptional premiere, on April 19, coincides with Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Brazil and would have marked the anniversary of Chief Bené,” Vieira notes. “The lighting pays tribute to his memory… and symbolizes our collective commitment to protect these sacred lands.”
Photo credits: nawasia.movie
Photo credits: nawasia.movie
Vieira describes the film’s creation as an organic process: “It was written throughout the journey, not on paper, but where each image is an imprint left by the present moment. Nothing was planned or predictable… I followed my intuition, with only this deep connection to nature as my compass.” Shot in 432 Hz—a frequency said to align with the natural world—NAWA SIA aims to envelop its audience, with jungle sounds, woody scents, and dimmed lights transforming the opera house into a living extension of the Amazon. A shaman will attend, his rituals bringing the forest’s mysticism to Monaco’s shores.
This is not just a film; it’s a call to awaken. “Monaco is a symbol of prestige, but also of commitment,” Vieira says. “If the call of the Amazon can be heard here, then the impact will be immense.” Wenden echoes her: “This is an opportunity to show that, far from the lands of the indigenous peoples, we are fully aware of their situation.” On April 19, NAWA SIA, The Secrets of the Amazon will invite Monaco’s elite into a world both distant and urgent—a cinematic whisper from the forest, urging us to listen before it’s too late.
Note: This event is by exclusive invitation only. Requests to attend can be submitted via https://www.nawasia.movie/fr or by contacting contact@nawasia.movie. Once the request is accepted, official registration will be finalized by a financial donation to the ‘NAWA SIA AMAZONIA ALLIANCE’ association, founded by Isabella Vieira to support reforestation and the transmission of ancestral knowledge in the Amazon.