MACHU PICCHU ET LES TRÉSORS DU PÉROU OPENS IN PARIS

On April 16, the record-breaking international exhibition Machu Picchu et les trésors du Pérou (Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru) kicked off its European tour at La Cité d’Architecture et du Patrimoine (Palais de Chaillot) in Paris, France.

This groundbreaking event, produced by CityNeon and World Heritage Exhibitions (the makers of Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of Pharaohs) in alliance with Inkaterra Asociación, is the largest exhibition to showcase Peru’s cultural legacy and extraordinary biodiversity. Machu Picchu et les trésors du Pérou is a fascinating journey through time to discover a culture that thrived in a mystical world. This sweeping exhibition spans 3,000 years across the ancient cultures of Peru, rivaled only by Ancient Egypt in longevity, and by the Roman Empire in engineering.

“50 years after coproducing Werner Herzog’s Aguirre, The Wrath of God to promote Peru through film (the cult classic played in Parisian theaters for almost three years), we bring you Machu Picchu et les trésors du Pérou as the most innovative way to welcome travelers from all around the world to explore the many wonders of culture and biodiversity you will find in Peru”, said exhibition partner José Koechlin at the official press conference.

An all-new, immersive museum experience will transport visitors from the cradle of civilization in the Southern Hemisphere to the jewel of the Inca Empire: the city of Machu Picchu. The exhibition boasts a stunning selection of 192 artifacts from the Larco Museum – one of the most impressive collections of gold treasures to ever tour the world.

Additionally, visitors will be amazed by the first-ever VR tour of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, designed with cutting-edge technologies, which recently won the Lumière Award in the category for Best Use of VR. At the exhibition’s gift shop, visitors will also find special rates and promotions for a dream trip across Peru staying at the Inkaterra lodges.

The exhibition has remained for consecutive days as France’s bestselling cultural event at ticketing marketplace Ticketmaster. France 24 News called Machu Picchu et les trésors du Pérou “an unparalleled event”, while the New York Times previously hailed the exhibition for being “the crème de la crème… the kinds of works that museums around the world are trying constantly to get on loan.”

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OPEN CALL: PLAY LAB AND INKATERRA ANNOUNCE
NEW FILMMAKING LAB IN THE AMAZON WITH MASTER FILMMAKER APICHATPONG WEERASATHAKUL

Play Lab Films opens the call to participate in the Apichatpong Weerasethakul Lab: Filming in the Amazon, a practical film workshop that seeks to bring together emerging talents from around the world. Under the guidance of Apichatpong Weerasethakul, one of the most original voices in contemporary cinema, participants will explore and promote their creativity, developing a short film each.

From 18 to 28 June 2022, for ten days, fifty creative directors of diverse nationalities and contexts will share the experience of creating fifty short films, under a wonderful methodology created by the Master Abbas Kiarostami, adapted by maverick Werner Herzog and now revisited by Apichatpong Weerasathakul. This methodology will be implemented in an environment carefully thought out and designed by the PlayLab Films team, for the creation of synergies and collective and individual learning that will transform the trajectory of all participants.

The new filmmaking workshop will take place from 18 to 28 June 2022 in the Tambopata National Reserve, in the facilities of Inkaterra Guides Field Station, an ecological center and research laboratory of flora and fauna for scientists and students who wish to explore and learn about the Peruvian Amazon. A unique opportunity to approach the largest tropical forest on the planet and one of the most biodiverse and multicultural regions of the world, led by the gaze and experience of master filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

Winner of the 2010 Cannes Palme d’Or for his cult classic Uncle Bonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, Apichatpong Weerasethakul is at the forefront of contemporary Thai cinema. His body of work reflects on dreams and nature, as proven by his latest masterpiece Memoria (winner of the Prix du Jury at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival), starred by Academy-award winner Tilda Swinton.

“I always think of a film as a body,” Apichatpong Weerasethakul reflects. “What you as a filmmaker want to do with all the parts – with that collection of images and sounds that a film is made up of, which are its organs – is to give life to that body, to make it a living organism.”

International call for entries is now open, with the results of the shortlist published on May 6. For further information, please contact: creatorslab@playlabfilms.com.

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY LAUNCHES
GROUNDBREAKING EXPEDITION
AT INKATERRA RESERVA AMAZONICA

National Geographic Society celebrated the launch of the Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. This groundbreaking initiative comprises a series of scientific research studies spanning the entire Amazon River Basin from the Andes to the Atlantic, supported by Rolex Foundation as part of its Perpetual Planet initiative. This two-year exploration of the Amazon will leverage local National Geographic Explorers, multiple science disciplines, and photojournalism to illuminate the diversity and connectivity of the people, wildlife, and ecosystems that make up this magnificent region.

The Perpetual Planet expeditions will focus on:

Mangroves at the mouth of the Amazon river on the Atlantic coast to assess changes in their capacity for carbon sequestration.
The impacts of deforestation and climate change on the Andean bear, whose life cycle and migratory range supports the ecosystem of the cloud forest.
Pink river dolphins along the Amazon to assess the level of mercury contamination in their diet as a barometer for river health, fishing agreements and tree planting initiatives to prevent run-off, protecting both the riverbanks and the dolphin habitat.
The impact of deforestation and mining on the rivers and water quality, marking the first ever evaluation in the Amazon of carbon and mercury production in mining ponds, and their subsequent impact on water flowpaths,
The resilience of Amazon forests to flooding, including measuring the carbon storage capacity and leaf morphology of aquatic tree species to provide a barometer for the capacity of the Amazon rainforest to absorb greenhouse gasses (GHGs).
A weather station near the peak of Nevado Ausangate to obtain meteorological data from one of the highest points in the Amazon watershed, and gather black carbon and snow water equivalent (SWE) samples to monitor climate change impacts on the water tower, the primary freshwater source for Andean and downstream ecosystems.

As the “Heart of the Planet,” the Amazon River Basin encompasses the single largest tropical rainforest in the world. It is home to over 40 million people and over 3 million species of plants and animals and is composed of a system of rivers that channel the largest volume of rainfall on Earth, flooding an area larger than 70% of the world’s countries. The water of the Amazon is the lifeblood of our planet though it is rarely the focus when discussing the Amazon. The land, ocean, atmosphere, people and animals are all connected by its hydrological cycle and its natural ebb and flow affects nearly every living organism near it. However, repeated and increased degradation such as deforestation, poaching, commercial agriculture, and climate change decreases the Amazon’s ability to adequately provide these critical ecosystem services for the planet.

“The Amazon is one of the most complex and essential environments in the world and it is increasingly at risk of losing its most valuable resource: water,” said National Geographic Explorer and Rolex Laureate João Campos-Silva. “It’s deeply important to respectfully explore this environment while partnering with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) so that we can have a holistic understanding of what those communities need and the steps we can all take to better protect the Amazon.”

The Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition would not be possible without the insights from late National Geographic Explorer at Large Tom Lovejoy whose unparalleled devotion and research of the Amazon was integral to the inception of the Tropical Forest Vulnerability Index and to this two year expedition. To learn more about Perpetual Planet Expeditions visit: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/topic/

perpetual-planet.

JOSÉ KOECHLIN SPEAKS
IN RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONALE

Celebrating the grand opening of Machu Picchu et les trésors de Pérou at La Cité d’Architecture et du Patrimoine (Palais de Chaillot, Paris), José Koechlin visited Radio France International for a conversation with El Invitado’s talk show host, Jordi Batalle, where the Inkaterra founder reflected on his 50-year career pioneering ecotourism and sustainable development in Peru, as well as his contribution to arts and culture with the production of Werner Herzog’s classics Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972) and Fitzcarraldo (Best Director at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival).

“Exactly 50 years ago we featured Aguirre in Paris,” José Koechlin recalled about Werner Herzog’s cult film, which contributed to enticing the first waves of tourists to Peru. “A film shot in extreme conditions, many scenes were produced with only one take as the film crew was surrounded by wild environs.”

For José Koechlin, establishing the first Inkaterra lodge in the heart of the Amazon rainforest was a means to extend the excellence achieved by the film crew, who supported his vision towards a new way of conceiving tourism, committed to authenticity and to the conservation of biodiversity and local communities. “We found a place near Cusco, in Puerto Maldonado, one and a half times the size of Costa Rica (84,000km²) and with only 16,000 inhabitants,” José Koechlin said.

“We built our first lodge with our own hands, using axe and machete (not even a chainsaw). Since then, we have tried to define our natural areas of influence through flora and fauna inventories, learning what is ecology and the bond between us humans and nature. With Cornell University we produced the first baseline for reptiles and amphibians in the Amazon basin; with two-time Pulitzer Prize winner E.O. Wilson we achieved the Guinness World Record for the largest diversity of ants, with 362 species; and we registered 903 bird species within Inkaterra grounds, almost as much as the total bird count in all Costa Rica. Inkaterra contributes to a deeper understanding of biodiversity in our planet, and to acknowledge the genesis of life as the world’s most precious capital.”

On Machu Picchu et les trésors du Pérou, José Koechlin underscored the immersive, theater-like curatorship and the VR attraction. “It is an evolution of entertainment, a new way of visiting Machu Picchu. Not only you will have the sensation of flying, it will also be a learning experience, as the surrounding green mountains evidence the vast diversity of life native to this sacred place.”

The interview also focused on the United Nations’ recognition of Machu Picchu as the First Carbon Neutral Wonder of the World, through an innovative waste management strategy to achieve circular economy – an effort led by Inkaterra and AJE Group. Inkaterra is also acknowledged by UN as the world’s first Climate Positive hotel brand, as its conservation initiative provide additional oxygen to the environment. “You are welcome to explore the wonders of Peru,” José Koechlin greeted RFI’s audience.

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FROM PARIS TO CUSCO – INKATERRA’S APRIL PRESS HIGHLIGHT

The grand opening of WHE and Inkaterra’s Machu Picchu et les trésors du Pérou at la Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris, France undoubtedly has been our press highlight for April. Topping the bestselling list at Ticketmaster of consecutive days, the exhibition spanning 3,000 of ancient Peruvian history has drawn the attention of the Gallic media. National Geographic France dedicated a special to the event and Peru’s cultural significance, while Le Monde included it in its list of this Spring’s best cultural events: “Almost 200 artifacts are on display, many of which are exhibited for first time outside Peru. These are the artistic and scientific guarantee of an immersive device that combines state-of-the-art technology and a Disney-style folkloric approach.”

Le Figaro underscores an exhibition that combines Andean sculptures from the Larco Museum, the best private cultural institution of Peru, with 3D immersion and scenography. Meanwhile, Agence France Presse highlights the exhibition’s ambiance with dramatic lightning and sounds of the forest, as well as the Lumière Award winning VR tour around Machu Picchu: “The UNESCO world patrimony was filmed with drones, allowing an immersive virtual experience of flying over the mysterious citadel like a condor and to go behind the footsteps of mythological hero Ai Apaec, part-man and part-feline.”

Additionally, Condé Nast Traveler recommended Readers’ Choice Award winner Inkaterra La Casona in Cusco, in its article on the best vacations for May. “May marks the beginning of dry season in Peru, which makes it the perfect time to see the endpoint of the Inca Trail in its greenest glory… Make sure to carve out some time to explore the city of Cusco, which most people use as a starting point for their Machu Picchu visit. (The destinations are about two hours apart by train.) The Andean city oozes colonial charm, from its cobblestone roads to the Baroque architecture of its churches. It also has several great hotels to choose from, including Readers’ Choice Award winner Inkaterra La Casona.”

The AAA Traveler magazine highlighted Inkaterra’s contribution to sustainable travel. Being the world’s first Climate Positive hotel brand acknowledged by United Nations, Inkaterra leads efforts to make Machu Picchu the first carbon-neutral wonder of the world through an innovative waste management strategy. Efforts for which a new-to-science vine snake species, the Oxybelis inkaterra, was named after the ecotourism pioneers in Peru.

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