Remembering today Dom Phillips
Two years after journalist Dom Phillips was shot dead in the Amazon while researching his book How to Save the Amazon: Ask the People Who Know, his life and work will be celebrated at an event at London's Frontline Club tonight, alongside that of his colleague Bruno Pereira. The event has been put together in partnership with Brazil Matters and Dom & Bruno's friends and families.
The first part of the evening is a UK Premiere of two films:
Where the Forest Ends, a personal tribute to Dom Phillips by film-maker and friend Otavio Cury
Length: 14 mins
After the brutal death of British journalist Dom Phillips in the Brazilian Amazon, filmmaker Otavio Cury reflects on the loss of his friend, revisiting the first journey they made to the Amazon and the films they made together.
Accounts of a War Correspondent in The Amazon, a documentary
Directors: Ana Aranha and Daniel Camargos & Production: Repórter Brasil
Length: 54 minutes
After the murder of British journalist Dom Phillips in the Amazon, his local partner covers the case while reflecting about their role as reporters in the world's largest forest. Is it worth taking the risk of ending up like Dom? The answer emerges from a new way to look at journalism inspired by the indigenous resistance. The documentary follows the steps of experienced reporter Daniel Camargos while he moves on from the coverage of his friend's murder into two indigenous territories. It's a film about values in journalism and human resilience. Most of all, our tribute to Dom.
The films will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Ali Rocha, human-rights activist, coordinator of Brazil Matters, joined by Jonathan Watts & Ana Aranha.
Jonathan Watts is global environment writer for the Guardian, founder of the Rainforest Journalism Fund, the China Environment Press Awards and the Amazon-centred news portal Sumaúma.com. He is working on a project to finish Dom's book, How to Save the Amazon: Ask the People Who Know, which will be published by Bonnier next year.
The two-year anniversary is also marked by the creation of theInstituto Dom Phillipswhich has been set up by Dom's wife Alessandra Sampaio and collaborators. In an interview with the Guardian's Brazil Correspondent Tom Phillips, Sampaio said the institute would be guided by the qualities for which her husband was known: tenderness, a burning desire to listen, and respect for diversity and life.
“I think that if Dom was here talking to me now he’d say: ‘Go Alê: move forwards, learn more, make contacts, help to echo this message about this incredible thing that is the Amazon and all of its beauties.’”
Dom’s final post on Instagram