Fisher Stevens & Leonardo DiCaprio‘s Doc 'We Are Guardians’ Raises Over $1 Million for Amazon Rainforest Protection

Theatrical Release of ‘We Are Guardians’ Boosts Doc Impact Campaign Raise Over $1 Million

Timely Environmental Doc From Academy Award Winners Fisher Stevens & Leonardo DiCaprio opens in NY this Friday, July 11 and will continue its theatrical release around the country through September 2025. 

July 10, 2025: The We Are Guardians film impact campaign team has successfully raised $1,057,245, in support of the Indigenous-led movement to protect the Amazon rainforest and its people. 

The majority of the impact campaign budget goes directly to the forest guardians featured in the film and Indigenous-led initiatives, including reforestation projects and training for Indigenous women. Campaign funds also go to building the infrastructure for achieving the film’s long term impact goals, along with supporting the release of the film - including accessible community events, educational theatrical experiences, and opportunities for viewers to engage in person with Indigenous movement leaders. https://www.weareguardiansfilm.com/impactcampaign

We Are Guardians follows the Indigenous forest protectors of the Amazon—as they risk their lives to fend off illegal loggers and land invaders. Shot in a close, character-driven vérité style, the film explores the complex intersections of politics, history, economics, and science, shedding light on the global implications of deforestation in one of the world’s most vital ecosystems. 

Co-directed by Edivan Guajajara, co-founder of Mídia Indígena, Brazil’s leading Indigenous-led journalism collective, and environmental filmmakers Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman, the film is produced by Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens with Leonardo DiCaprio serving as Executive Producer. 

We Are Guardians illuminates a path forward, where hope and unity can guide us toward a brighter future for the Amazon and our planet. The film is not a story about Indigenous people; it is a story told by Indigenous people.

“The film’s impact campaign is an essential part of the project,” said Director Edivan Guajajara. “It’s not just about showing the story, but mobilizing people, creating strategic partnerships, influencing policies, and inspiring everyone to join this fight. The world needs to understand that protecting Indigenous peoples is protecting the planet. Every viewer can become a guardian. That’s our mission.”

“This is one of the most effective and successful documentary impact campaigns I have been involved with over my career.” said Fisher Stevens, “Our team has hit and now surpassed all of our initial goals for the film, and we are only getting started”. Stevens has a long track record of backing successful environmental documentaries, dating back to his 2010 Academy Award for THE COVE.

The We Are Guardians impact campaign has delivered drones, radios, firefighting equipment, and cameras to forest guardians, as well as building monitoring bases. The campaign is supporting the work of Indigenous journalists and creators, along with workshops to prepare communities for political participation at COP30 Belém in Autumn 2025. 

The We Are Guardians impact campaign has achieved the following: 

• $295,709 of resources and trainings are being deployed to the Tembé and Guajajara communities 

• Equipped 6 guardian groups, which protect 1.5 million acres

• $155k raised to initiate reforestation projects in the Arariboia territory

• $79.5k raised to support 3 Climate Caravan Tour events and 2 screenings at COP30 in November 2025

• $14k of equipment and travel support has been provided for Indigenous filmmakers at Mídia Indígena

• 890 screenings globally, including 58 theaters, 97 festivals and conferences, and 735 community events 

The documentary is a powerful story of hope and resilience amid an unfolding environmental crisis, as the Tembé and Guajajara people persist in their struggle to preserve their ancestral lands. The film has already been honored with numerous accolades, including the Cinema for Peace Green Film Award, the Jackson Wild Impact Award, Best Documentary at the UK’s Raindance Film Festival, and the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Mostra São Paulo International Film Festival. We Are Guardians world-premiered at HotDocs in Toronto.

Stevens, Zak Kilberg and Maura Anderson of Highly Flammable produced the documentary along with filmmaker Chelsea Greene of One Forest. Leonardo DiCaprio, the Academy Award winner actor and activist, serves as executive producer with Jennifer Davisson and Phillip Watson of Appian Way Productions, in addition to Christopher Gebhardt and Randy Gebhardt of Random Good, Bruce Cohen, Edivan Guajajara, Flay Guajajara and Erisvan Bone Guajajara of Mídia Indígena, Rob Grobman, Iz Web, Luiza Krapels, and Marco Krapels. Co-executive producers are Conscious Good, Michael Grimm, Brigit Grimm, Heather Conforto Beatty and Scott Beatty.

Previously, ZDF Studios’ Off the Fence (the company behind the Oscar-winning doc My Octopus Teacher) acquired worldwide rights excluding North America and Latin America. We Are Guardians was acquired by Netflix in 2024 for a release across Latin America.

In June 2025, We Are Guardians was also released on Amazon Prime Video in Germany and the UK. 

The We Are Guardians theatrical tour from distributor Area 23a, has premiered in 50+ cities across North America, since June 2025, currently running through September, 2025 in the US. It opens in NYC at The Village East by Angelika on July 11.