La Joya and the Warriors in the Mist

A people who lived on the brink of the abyss and buried their dead on sheer cliffs, defying all logic. The Chachapoya culture flourished between 800 and 1500 AD in northern Peru, at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters. No one knows for sure whether the Chachapoyas came out of the jungles or the mountains, but they settled in a place that seems impossibly difficult to live in: the mountainous fringes of the Peruvian jungle.

Directed by José Manuel Novoa, La Joya and the Warriors in the Mist leans on a strong ensemble — Stephen Hughes — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2014.