“We Are Guardians,” a documentary presented by executive producer Leonardo DiCaprio and producer Fisher Stevens, has raised more than $1 million for rainforest preservation efforts through its charitable campaign ahead of a New York theatrical release on Friday and a wider run in September.
The project by co-directors Edivan Guajajara, Chelsea Greene, and Rob Grobman highlights Indigenous leaders’ efforts to protect the Brazilian Amazon amid encroachment and deforestation.
“This is one of the most effective and successful documentary impact campaigns I’ve been involved with throughout my career,” Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Stevens (“The Lincoln Project”) said in a statement. “Our team has met and now exceeded all of our initial goals for the film, and we’re just getting started.”
The documentary focuses specifically on the Tembé and Guajajara Indigenous people in Brazil. As illegal loggers and invaders spread deforestation across their lands, individuals in these communities act as “guardians” in an attempt to protect nature and their home.
The documentary impact campaign for “We Are Guardians” has already made significant progress, despite the film having only 890 screenings worldwide. The campaign has equipped six teams of guardians, like those featured in the film, to help them combat deforestation, enabling them to protect 1.5 million acres. Similarly, nearly $300,000 has been provided to the communities featured in the documentary to help with training and resources. The impact campaign has provided approximately $150,000 for reforestation efforts.
It’s easy to see how a project like this would appeal to DiCaprio. For decades, the actor has served as a staunch advocate for environmentalism and combating the climate crisis. DiCaprio has produced and worked on numerous climate and environmental documentaries since rising to fame in the 1990s.
“We Are Guardians” premiered in 2023 at the Hot Docs Festival in Canada. The documentary has screened at several other festivals over the years, winning a handful of awards. Since June 2025, the documentary has premiered in several US cities on a tour that will continue until the end of September. The film is available online in Germany, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.
