BIOGRAPHY

During his extensive career, Jean-Pierre Dutilleux has made over forty films, including a dozen in Amazonia, taken thousands of photographs and published six books.

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux rose to international prominence with his extraordinary academy Award-nominated documentary, “Raoni”, an uncompromising investigation of the complex issues surrounding the survival of the remaining indigeneous Indians of the Amazon Rainforest and indeed, of the Rainforest itself.

Shot on location and named for the forceful and savvy chief at its center, the film was narrated by Marlon Brando. The New York Times praised “Raoni” as a “sobering, sympathetic and technically expert documentary”. With the notoriety accorded him by the film, both in Brazil and abroad Raoni, the man, has become the prime spoke person for all of Brazil’s surviving Indians.

A native of Belgium, Dutilleux earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Literature from Saint Hadelin College in Liege, and later studied law, languages and economics at the University of Louvain. During his college years, Dutilleux traveled throughout North and South America, awakening passion and developing respect for the native Indians. In 1972, he served as assistant to Cosras Gravas on the production “State of Siege” in Chile. Two years later, at the age of 23, Dutilleux completed his first film, a study of Indians of the Amazon.

In the years since, he has filmed and photographed more than 50 tribes world wide, produced a dozen films in the Amazon, sailed around the world, and documented countless unique adventures. Additionally, his work as a photojournalist has appeared in 100-plus magazines in dozens of countries.

Dutilleux pioneered a new genre of filmmaking – the rock drama – when, in 1984, he produced and directed “ the Rhythmatist” starring Steward Copeland. A mesmerizing portrait, the film is an extended music video with multiple levels of perception running parallel throughout (available on A&M Home Video).

One of his visits to the Amazon, Dutilleux was joined by noted rock musician Sting, who was able to experience firsthand the indigenous tribes of the fast disappearing jungle. Together they authored articles exposing the fate of the native Amazonians which, fortified by Dutilleux’s powerful photos, propelled the rainforest issues into the global spotlight.
Encouraged by response to the stories, the pair created The Rainforest Foundation to support the Indian’s fight for survival, launching an international campaign with a television spot starring Sting and produced and directed by Dutilleux.

Accompanied by Chief Raoni, they embarked on an ambitious world tour and, in only 60 days, established local foundation in 12 countries, raising awareness and funds to protect the rainforest. In six recently published books, Dutilleux recounts these adventures and share his remarkable photographs.

FILM

Tribal Journeys
A Window to Another World and Another Time
13 x half hour episodes
Tribal Journeys is Jean-Pierre’s voyage into the heart of the most isolated and remote corners of the world from the Amazon to the jungles of Papua, New Guinea. It has been shown around the world on TLC (USA), Discovery, TV5, TVE among other broadcasters.

The Awa Guajas (People Beyond Time)
In the heart of the dwindling Brazilian rainforest are vanishing people dependent on the jungle for what they need to live. See more.

The Poturus (People of the Moon)
The last vestige of an astonishing tribe makes it home in the Amazonian rainforest. They take their name from the large wooden plug that pierces their bottom lip.

The Agtas (At the Edge of the World)
The Agtas live in almost complete isolation, alternating between the jungle and the vast beaches on a remote island of the Philippines.

The Toulambis Part 1 (First Contact)
Braving torrential rains in remote Papua, New Guinea, Jean-Pierre encounters the most isolated nomadic tribe in the world.

The Toulambis Part 2
Jean-Pierre’s remarkable encounter with the Toulambis continues for three days of unprecedented exchange.

The Masuane (Last Hunter Gatherers in the Spice Islands)
Isolated by the Indonesian government in the remote Spice Islands live the shamanistic tribe of the Masuane, known to possess mysterious magical powers.

Togutil (The Shaman of Almaheira)
On the island of Almaheira, Jean-Pierre and his crew meet with the Togutil tribe and their most powerful shaman, Kasian.

The Mikea (The Gentle People)
Most of the islanders even today still refuse to believe that the Mikea exist. Jean-Pierre meets with this elusive tribe which wishes to stay away from the outside world.

The Mursi (Where Beauty comes from the Heart)
The Omo Valley is home to one of Africa’s most fascinating tribes. Mursi women wear lip plates as a sign of wealth and beauty.

The Kayapo (Raoni, Keeper of the Rainforest)
Raoni, the supreme chief of the Kayapo tribe in the Amazon, shares his view of the world. Viewers witness a secret healing ritual and a rare initiation for young warriors.

The Una (The Last Stone Axe Makers)
There is only one place on Earth where man still makes tools from polished stone: in New Guinea, the world’s second largest island, found North of Australia. Until the 1960’s, this region was entirely unknown to the rest of mankind.

The Korowai (The Last Cannibals)
Cannibalism is part of a system revolving around the Kakua, a clandestine witchdoctor obsessed with the taste of human flesh.

The Asmat (The Fine Arts of War)
A former Dutch colony, Irian Jaya is in the western half of the island of New Guinea. It is the largest and most inhospitable province of Indonesia: former headhunters and cannibals, the Asmat remain the most talented woodcarvers of the tribal world.

Amazon Forever
Gentleman Films, Skylight Producoes, Tele-images, a Franco-Brazilian co-production starring Chief Ayupu, Aurelien Wiik, Jose Steinberg, a 90 minutes eco-drama, shot on locations in Brazil, Paris, and London.

Amazonian Footprints
Alexandra Productions for the Galeries Lafayette amazon exhibition.

Manaus Eco-Tourism
Director / Producer

Sebastian Rainforest Tour
Photographer / Director / Cameraman

Mother Nature Inc.
KCLA Channel 9 – Field Producer / Photographer hosted by Denis Farrier

Kayapos Update
Director / Producer

Rainforest Reports #1
Sebastian International – Writer / Director / Producer

Rainforests Reports #2
Sebastian International – Writer / Director / Producer

Raoni’s Return
CP Productions / Director

Our Common Future
Director / Producer of Brazilian segment
Starring Gilberto Gil, Milton Nacimento, Sting, Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethania and others. Live via satellite.

Fight for the Amazon
TFI / Charter Films – Director / Producer
with Sting

Sting Appeal for the Rainforest Foundation
Director / Producer

Animal Logic
Director / Producer
Musical documentary with Stewart Copeland and Andy Sommers

Raoni Meets Red Crow
Director / Producer
Fourth World Day

Geo Africa
Director / Producer

Women of New Guinea
Director / Producer
Mist Film Productions

Amazon Stories (unreleased)
Director / Producer
Charter Films

The Making of Tender is the Night
Director / Producer
Showtime

Aboard Survival
Director / Producer
Charter Films / Whitefeather Production TV Pilot

The Rhythmatist
Director / Producer
Starring Stewart Copeland
CCCP / Charter Films

Mount Kenya Safari
Producer
CCCP / Charter Films

Playing to Win
Director / Producer
Charter Films

Gin Cabillito
Commercial campaign

Man and His Planet
Director / Cameraman
Idemedia Productions televison series

Hands on the World
Director
Idemedia Productions

Raoni
Writer / Director / Producer
With Marlon Brando – Nominated for an Academy Award – SND Productions

Xingu The White Man Is Coming
Director / Producer
BBC World About Us series

Asmat, Woodcarvers of New Guinea
Co-Producer with Bill Leimbach
BBC World About Us series

WOW
Co-Director / Cameraman
Bill Leimbach Productions

Indians I & II
Director / Writer / Cameraman
Cinesphere Productions

State of Seige
Assistant to Producer Jacques Perrin
Costas Gravas, Director

SCREEN PLAYS

Parallel {with Roger Ernest)
Moongoddess
The Apprentice
Katu
Sundancer
Amazon Forever, the Age of Innocence
Amazon Forever, the Age of Fire

AWARDS

Ecology Festival, France – First Prize
Gramado, Brazil – 8 Awards
Academy Award, USA – Nomination
Rolex Award, Switzerland
Golden Halo Award, USA

VIDEO

Raoni Teaser
Click here or anywhere on the above Raoni image to watch the Raoni Teaser.

Click the fullscreen icon in the video player to see fullscreen video.