Save Our Sentinels Indigenous Tribes Awareness | Clapboard

Save Our Sentinels

Description

Save Our Sentinels is a profound film campaign created by Wunderman Thompson India for the Jimmy Nelson Foundation, released in May 2020 to coincide with the United Nations’ World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on May 21. This visually striking short film offers an evocative commentary on the cultural identity of the last 36 indigenous tribes, often regarded as the final sentinels of our natural reserves, captured through rare still photographs and footage taken over the past twenty years by renowned photographer Jimmy Nelson and his team. The film serves as a tribute to these endangered communities, highlighting their resilience in preserving their unique cultures and ancestral habitats despite mounting threats to their cultural identity and forest lands. The campaign’s timing reinforces the day's global significance as a moment to embrace and celebrate cultural diversity, underscoring indigenous peoples as living examples of harmony between humanity, culture, and nature. The soundtrack enriches this powerful narrative with a multilingual musical composition that weaves together ancient tribal sayings and forgotten folk songs recorded on location, drawing influences from indigenous groups spanning Africa, Siberia, India, South America, and Australian Aboriginal communities. Vocals from Grammy Award winner Richard Bona and traditional gypsy tribal singers from Duala Cameroon, Siberia, and India lend authenticity and a deeply emotional layer to the film, further immersing viewers in the cultural tapestry presented. With the creative vision of writer and director Senthil Kumar and music direction by Dhruv Ghanekar, the campaign combines artistry with a compelling social message, highlighting the urgent need to protect these sentinels of cultural heritage. Produced by Small Fry Productions with a dedicated creative and post-production team, Save Our Sentinels is not only a call to action but also a moving celebration of humanity’s diverse cultural roots.

Credits

Client

Jimmy Nelson Foundation

Agency

Wunderman Thompson

Photographer

Jimmy Nelson

Writer

Senthil Kumar

Music Director

Dhruv Ghanekar

Offline Editor

Priyank Premkumar, Kevin Menezes

Online Editor

Dev Nayak

Research Director

Harsha Sri

Sound Engineer

Joseph George

Production House

Small Fry Productions

Producer

Ryan Suares, Rohit Rathor

Post Producer

Jebastian Anton

Music

Wah Wah Music

Art Director

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