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 indigenous 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 spokesman for all of Brazil's surviving Indians.
A native of Belgium, Dutilleux finished his secondary studies in the Latin & Greek Departments at the Saint Hadelin College in Liege, and later studied law at the University of Luvain. During his college years, Dutilleux traveled throughout North and South America, awakening his passion and respect for the native Indians. In 1972, he served as assistant to Costa Gravas on the production "State of Siege" in Chile. One year later, at age 22, Dutilleux completed his first documentary and has since filmed and photographed more than 50 tribes worldwide, produced a dozen films in the Amazon, sailed around the world, and documented countless unique adventures. Additionally, his work as a photojournalist appeared in 100 plus magazines in dozens of countries.
Dutilleux pioneered a new genre of filmmaking - the rockudrama- when, in 1984, he produced and directed "The Rhythmists" starring Steward Copeland. A memorizing portrait, the film is an extended music video with multiple levels of perception running parallel throughout (available on A & M Home Video).
Once 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 Amazonian 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 Indians' 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 rainforest foundations in twelve countries, raising awareness and funds to protect tropical rainforests. In published books & films, Dutilleux recounts these adventures and shares his remarkable photographs.
Dutilleux has recently written, produced and directed "Tribal Journeys," a 13 part series profiling the world's vanishing cultures and currently showing around the world on TLC (USA), Discovery, TV5, TVE among others broadcasters. The series is distributed by Paris based Europe Images international.
JP has just completed principal photographic on "Amazon Forever," a feature film he wrote and directed, produced by Gentleman Films, a Franco-Brazilian co-production. Check out the site at www.amazonforever.com.
