USA Premiere

SYNOPSIS

“Abiseo, cultural forest of the chachapoya” follows an interdisciplinary team from World Monuments Fund Peru as they study and conserve the archaeological remains of the chachapoya civilization within Río Abiseo National Park, a UNESCO Mixed World Heritage Site.

Deep in one of the most remote and biologically rich areas of Peru, this team of scientists and conservationists embarks on a groundbreaking mission to explore, document, and preserve Gran Pajatén archaological site, one of the most significant cultural legacies of the chachapoya civilization.

Directed by Rosemarie Lerner (Lúcida Media), the documentary captures the extraordinary complexity of this effort— from the challenges of accessing the site and the harsh conditions on the ground, to the technical, scientific, and cultural work required to carry out conservation in such an isolated location. 

This marks the first conservation project in Gran Pajatén and World Monuments Fund, the only historic preservation organization to have led conservation work at Río Abiseo National Park, contributing not only to its preservation but also to the advancement of archaeological research in the region. The project brings together diverse disciplines and highlights the urgent need to protect both cultural heritage and the fragile ecosystems that surround it.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Rosemarie Lerner is a Peruvian director and producer specializing in documentary filmmaking and transmedia storytelling. She holds master’s degrees in Documentary Film and Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship from Goldsmiths, University of London.

She is the co-director of the Quipu Project, a transmedia documentary about forced sterilizations in Peru, which received the Peabody Legacy Award for interactive narratives. She is also the founder and director of Lúcida Media, a production company focused on audiovisual and new media projects. Her work has been featured at international festivals such as IDFA, Hot Docs, Tribeca, and Ars Electronica, and she has served as a mentor and speaker at various festivals and academic forums across Latin America and Europe.