Why This Name?
Because this organization had to declare its belief in the strength of nature, a nature that is part of the place and history from where I come. This connection stems from my maternal grandmother, a mixed Indigenous woman who understood and translated knowledge between these two worlds, and my mother, who later, delved into her stories in this same relationship with plants. My heritage is rooted in the experiences of these two women, and I could not but continue on this same path.
ANINGA is a plant from the Araceae family, very common in the Amazon and along the coast of tropical South America. Characterized by its large, spear-shaped leaves, it can grow up to 2m in height and has deep aquatic roots. Aninga plays an important role in the biodiversity of the ecosystem where it is born. Grouped together, they serve as an ecological corridor, providing space and food for various species of fauna and flora. It is also recognized for its ability to serve as a bioindicator of polluted places that require care, and for being capable of filtering heavy metals from the soil, contributing to the balance of life and its ecosystem.
ANINGA wants to honor this name: it aims to open pathways, care for what needs care, and contribute to the balance of the ecosystem of storytelling.
About the Founder
Juliana Curi is an award-winning Brazilian director whose work focuses on social change, centering diverse perspectives, especially from the Global South, through a distinctive visual language.
Her work has been described as “captivating and one-of-a-kind” (Golden Globes Hollywood Press Association), “dazzling performance art” (Deadline), “bold and expressive cinema” (The Hollywood Times), and “transcendental visual approach” (East Bay Times).
Influenced by Brazilian Cinema Novo and Social Realism, Juliana began her career as a Creative Director at MTV, developing social impact campaigns for Brazilian youth. Over the following two decades, she directed acclaimed campaigns for global brands and received special recognition from UN Women for challenging gender stereotypes. Her most recent global project, The Dove Code, won Cannes Lions, Effie, and Anthem Awards while expanding the international conversation around artificial intelligence and beauty standards.
Juliana made her feature directorial debut in 2022 with Uýra The Rising Forest, co-produced by Doc Society, the British Film Institute's impact storytelling initiative. The film screened at prestigious venues, including the Barbican in London, BAM in Brooklyn, Fondazione Prada in Milan, and the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. It received 17 international awards and was acquired by PBS for broadcast in the United States.
In 2024, she was selected for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Television Mentorship Program, one of the industry's leading mentorship programs designed to prepare the next generation of storytellers in Hollywood.
She is the founder of Aninga Studio, a creative studio for cultural shifts. She believes in the power of storytelling as a catalyst for change.
