AYAHUASCALAND

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AYAHUASCALAND

By Lisa CAMILLO

AGAINST THE TIDE FILMS - as PROD

Documentary - Pre-Production 2023

The violent death of a young British banker in the Peruvian Amazon shines light on a darkness within the booming business of psychedelic ‘drug tourism’.

- Year of production
- 2023
- Genres
- Documentary
- Countries
- ITALY
- Languages
- ENGLISH, SPANISH
- Budget
- 1 - 3 M$
- Duration
- 85 mn
- Director(s)
- Lisa CAMILLO
- Producer(s)
- Lisa CAMILLO (Against the tide Films)
- Synopsis
- On 8th December 2015, British banker, Unais Gomes (26), visits a Peruvian psychedelic-medicine retreat, to experience the transformative effects of Ayahuasca. In the aftermath of a traditional healing ceremony, he is killed by his friend Joshua Stevens (29). Joshua claims he acted in self-defence, after Unais – usually so calm and polite – became suddenly violent and attempted to rape him.
  A murder story involving two Westerners in an Amazonian drug ceremony grabs the attention of the world’s press – but something doesn’t add up. 24 hours after Unais is killed, Joshua disappears. In his absence, a local shaman, Celia Panduro, is blamed for Unais’s murder, together with her assistant Leonardo Jimenez. They were responsible for brewing the potent Ayahuasca tea that Unais drank on the evening he died.
  Unais’ death has left an unbearable wound in his family. For the past 8 years his sister, Asel, has been fighting to bring Joshua to justice, and to clear her brother’s name – which she claims has been smeared by his killer’s lies.
  Celia and Leonardo are also fighting for their lives. They claim the Ayahuasca had nothing to do with Unais’s death, and that they are simply scapegoats - prosecuted by a corrupt and discriminatory justice system that would rather convict innocent indigenous people than pursue a white murderer.
  This series will unravel a sinister murder mystery filled with lies, deceit and prejudice, and will uncover fresh evidence that points to a story even darker than the one that is already known. It will reveal that the true culprits of Unais’s death have remained hidden for the past ten years - and will confront them with evidence of their guilt for the first time.
  With incredible first-person testimony from our principal protagonists, and access to police records and never before seen archives, this is a twist-filled journey to the dark side of the Ayahuasca business. A compelling crime story that explores the deadly perfect storm that resulted in the death of a young man who simply wanted to improve the quality of his life. And a cautionary tale for anyone wishing to explore the rapidly growing world of psychedelic therapies.
- Beginning of shooting
- Dec 26, 2022