The Voices From Far Away project showcases the institution’s history and is dedicated to its founders, Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado and Sebastião Salgado
After celebrating its 28th anniversary on April 17th, Instituto Terra received a new record of its trajectory with the release of a documentary directed by German filmmaker Max Ludolf, creator of the Voices From Far Away project. The production, released on YouTube on April 21st, presents the institution’s work in the recovery of the Atlantic Forest and its impact on the Doce River basin.
An admirer of Sebastião Salgado’s work, Maz was in Aimorés (MG) in March to capture images and testimonies from collaborators and partners of Instituto Terra. The material resulted in a short film of about ten minutes, which seeks to translate, in a sensitive way, the relationship between environmental regeneration and human development.
“Ever since I became familiar with Sebastião’s work, who is my favorite photographer, I have also come to deeply admire Instituto Terra. With my project, the desire to document what they do, and the beauty of the place has only increased,” says the director.
The documentary highlights how Instituto Terra’s activities have expanded over the years, integrating initiatives for ecosystem restoration, environmental education, and sustainable rural development. The aim is to address socio-environmental challenges systemically, combining the recovery of degraded areas with improving the quality of life for people living in the region.
“In Brazil, the gap between the most and least privileged classes is enormous, and we need to work to reduce this inequality. One of the main purposes of Instituto Terra is to reduce this social injustice by empowering people and strengthening rural production,” comments Sérgio Rangel, executive director of Instituto Terra.
The film also features the testimony of a rural producer who has benefited from the organization’s initiatives, as well as collaborators who have witnessed the transformation of the landscape and local communities for years.
For Max, the production represents a tribute to the founders Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado and Sebastião Salgado, as well as an invitation to reflect on the relationship between society and the environment. “I want to take this message to Europe, to my community, and to the world. My goal is to show, through these stories, the strength of the Earth and the impact of the people who work to protect it,” he concludes.
The full video can be watched at the following link:
Credits:
Organization: Instituto Terra
Direction: Max Ludolf
Creation: Max Ludolf
Testimonials: Sérgio Rangel, Marilda Moreira, Pedro Carlos, Rafael Heleno Cunha
Images: Max Ludolf, Leonardo Merçon and Jovander Pito
ABOUT VOICES FROM FAR AWAY
Voices From Far Away is an audiovisual project that seeks to portray social, cultural, political, and environmental stories around the world. The initiative highlights the work of organizations, collectives, and individuals who are working to build solutions to contemporary challenges.