Set in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest in Venezuela, an American man named David Good looks to reunite with his Indigenous mother, Yarima, after she returned to her tribe in a Venezuelan Yanomani village when he was a child, leaving the two of them separated for more than 30 years. The documentary film, titled “Wayumi,” is a cinematic journey of self-discovery across continents and generations about their last chance to bring the whole family together, and it has now found a home of its own.
Grasshopper Film has acquired the North American distribution rights to “Wayumi,” the directorial debut of filmmaker Andrew Balcof, IndieWire can report exclusively. The film is set to make its world premiere in the U.S. Competition at DOC NYC next month, and Grasshopper will be planning a non-theatrical, digital release for the title next year.
Against the backdrop of the Amazon’s vista, not to mention bureaucratic obstacles from the Venezuelan government, the story of Good and his mother is described as a “meditation on resilience, cultural survival, and the ties that endure across time and distance.” The film draws from hundreds of hours of footage as Good both explores the jungles of Venezuela as well as tours his mom around the suburbs of New Jersey. The first trailer for the film, which IndieWire is sharing below, shows Good’s mother more comfortable nude in her home in the sweltering rainforest than shopping for bras at a department store.
The debut screening of “Wayumi” will be followed at DOC NYC with a Q&A with director and producer Balcof, producers David Good and Elius Kim, and executive producers Larry Weiss and Johnny Griffith. Peter Getzels is also an executive producer.
Grasshopper Film recently acquired the TIFF Discovery title “Forastera,” which won the FIPRESCI prize for emerging filmmakers for director Lucía Aleñar Iglesias. It also released the films “River of Grass” and “Mare’s Nest” earlier this year.
“Wayumi” premieres at DOC NYC in-person at the Village East by Angelika on November 15 at 5:30 p.m., followed by a second screening on Nov. 17 at 4 p.m., and it will be available online to festival goers on Nov. 16.
“We’re incredibly excited to be working on ‘Wayumi.’ Andrew Balcof has crafted something visually stunning and culturally powerful. We’re proud to support the film and help share its story with new audiences,” Lily Spitz, Head of Non-Theatrical and Digital Distribution with Grasshopper Film, said in a statement.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to share ‘Wayumi’ with the world through Grasshopper Film,” Balcof added in a statement. “David and Yarima’s story illuminates how history and culture enrich our sense of identity, belonging, and family. Sharing this journey with our audience is a profound privilege.”
Grasshopper’s Lily Spitz negotiated the deal with RJ Millard and Katherine Matthews of Obscured Pictures on behalf of the filmmakers.
