WHITE MAN CONTACT DANCE

FILM info

THE ‘ACCIDENTAL’ FILM

The story begins back in the 1990’s deep in the Amazon rainforest when filmmaker, Matt Currington is researching a remote indigenous people called the Matses, once the most feared warrior tribe in Peru.

There he hears rumour of a mysterious ceremony held every year called the White Man Contact Dance, where ancient traditions are revived.

The documentary follows events that take place during his follow-up visit many years later when he returns to film the colourful indigenous event. While on the surface the White Man Contact Deance appears to be a successful celebration, the filmmaker soon detects hidden tension within the community. On the one side are those fighting for their indigenous traditions. On the other, a powerful faction of evangelised Matses who want to maintain their grip on the community.

On discovering this invisible war, the filmmaker decides to investigate further - eventually finding out how this once feared warrior tribe were targeted by two American missionaries back in 1969.

This ‘acciedental’ film is the first to document this dark and secretive chapter of Amazon history.

FILM LEGACY

The film appears to be the first full documentary ever made to expose the secretive and questionable methods used by American evangelist missionaries to convert indigenous peoples in the Amazon.

These practices are considered a human rights abuse under Articles 8 and 12 of the United Nations Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples:

Article 8

 “Indigenous peoples and individuals have the

right not to be subjected to forced assimilation

or destruction of their culture”

Article 12 

“Indigenous peoples have the right to manifest,

practise, and teach their spiritual and

religious traditions, customs and ceremonies”

More information on the wider missionary impact on indigenous peoples can be found in the the book THE MISSIONARIES by acclaimed author and journalist Normal Lewis (deceased), published in 1988. Lewis’ writing on this subject led to the birth of indigenous advocacy group Survival International.

Over the last decade, very little information has surfaced over the true extent of such practices, though it’s believed that several American fundamentalist missionary organisations remain active in South and Central America, Africa, Asia and Oceana.

The filmmaker hopes his documentary will help to shed more light on a hitherto very secretive and culturally destructive phenomenon.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER

Matt Currington is an award-winning British filmmaker.

Since 2000 he’s filmed and directed over 50 hours of specialist factual content for the international broadcasters from National Geographic to the BBC.

He’s worked on a broad range of genres including history, science, travel, natural history as well as feature-length documentary.

Matt began his career focused primarily on researching and then directing anthropology films. His documentaries included Zo-e: Nomads of the Amazon, Yawalapiti: Spirits of the Eclipse, Tribal Rites (Series) and The Dinka: War & Love on the Nile, which can now be watched on Amazon Prime.

In 2009 he worked as original director and then cinematographer of feature documentary SHOOTING WITH MURSI (Theatrical Release) that won Best Documentary at National Geographic All Roads Film Festival 2010 and 2011 Objectif de Bronze, Best cultural diversity message (UNESCO award).

Matt’s concern over indigenous as well as environmental issues has spilled over into his off-film pursuits.

For over the last 20 years, he’s spent much of his spare time travelling to remote parts of the world photographing and filming ‘forgotten’ or ‘unknown’ local stories of importance.

In 2004 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society for his educational work promoting the protection of pristine environments in Antarctica.

Since then he has given educational talks at the British Museum, Peruvian Embassy, London Wetlands Centre and numerous other festivals and public events.

His Filmography can be found on the FILMOGRAPHY page here on www.mattcurrington.com