Jean-Pierre Dutilleux — Director | Biography, Movies & Career

Biography

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux (born 13 October 1949) is a Belgian author, activist and filmmaker, known for his work documenting environmental issues and indigenous cultures, most notably in the Amazon rainforest.

Over the last forty years, Dutilleux has produced thirty films, including a dozen in the Amazon rainforest, taken thousands of photographs, and published six books.

He received an Academy Award nomination for his documentary Raoni, which examines issues surrounding the survival of indigenous Amazonian communities and the rainforest. Raoni investigates the complex issues surrounding the survival of the remaining indigenous natives of the Amazon rainforest and the rainforest itself.

A citizen 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 and developed an interest in local tribes. In 1972, he served as an assistant to Costa-Gavras on the production State of Siege in Chile. Two years later, at the age of 23, Dutilleux completed his first film, a study of natives of the Amazon.

Since then, he has filmed and photographed over 50 tribes worldwide, produced multiple films in the Amazon, and undertaken various projects documenting indigenous communities. Additionally, his work as a photojournalist has appeared in more than 100 magazines in various countries.

During a visit to the Amazon, Dutilleux was accompanied by the musician Sting, who witnessed the indigenous tribes of the rapidly disappearing rainforest. Together, they wrote articles about the challenges faced by indigenous Amazonians. Dutilleux's photographs also raised awareness about rainforest conservation. Motivated by the response to these articles, Dutilleux and Sting co-founded The Rainforest Foundation with the stated mission to support the indigenous peoples’ efforts to preserve their way of life.

They launched an international campaign, including a television advertisement featuring Sting, directed by Dutilleux. In collaboration with Chief Raoni, they traveled internationally and established local foundations in 12 countries within 60 days to promote rainforest conservation. In his six latest books, Dutilleux recounts these adventures and shares his photographs.

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux has faced various controversies since the release of the documentary film Raoni (1978).

On 22 July 1981, the Brazilian daily Folha de S. Paulo reported that the FUNAI (National Indigenous Foundation, an Indigenous affairs agency in Brazil) created a new rule because of problems encountered with the movie Raoni. The article explained that while Raoni was the first commercial film in Brazil made with the participation of indigenous people, Dutilleux "did not respect the agreement signed with FUNAI to transfer 10% of the profits to the Indians Txucarramae, of the Xingu River region." The new criteria put in place by FUNAI: "The Indians who will take part in the shootings will have to be paid and notified to the Union of the Artists of Rio de Janeiro and the FUNAI." ...

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