National Geographic Documentary Films Unveils Trailer for LOST IN THE JUNGLE, the Unbelievable Story of Four Indigenous Children Who Survived a Plane Crash in the Amazon, Ahead of World Premiere at Telluride Film Festival

Directed and Produced by Colombian Filmmaker Juan Camilo Cruz, Along With Little Monster Films' Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, LOST IN THE JUNGLE is the First Time the World Will Hear the Children's Story in Their Own Words

LOST IN THE JUNGLE Premieres on National Geographic on Sept. 12 and Streams on Disney+ on Sept. 13

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - Aug. 28, 2025) Today, National Geographic Documentary Films released the trailer and key art for LOST IN THE JUNGLE, from award-winning directing-producing team Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin ("Free Solo," "The Rescue"), and Emmy(R) and BAFTA Award-winning filmmaker Juan Camilo Cruz ("In Her Hands," "Messi's World Cup"). For the first time ever, the four Indigenous children who survived the Colombian plane crash on May 1, 2023 - and then endured 40 days alone in the jungle - share their extraordinary story of survival, told in their own words. Award-winning producers Simon Chinn ("Man on Wire," "Searching for Sugar Man") and Jonathan Chinn ("LA 92," "TINA") of Lightbox are producers alongside Guillermo Galdos of Pacha Films, Anna Barnes of Little Monster Films and Mark Grieco. Following its world premiere at Telluride Film Festival this weekend, the film will air on National Geographic on Friday, Sept. 12, at 9/8c and stream globally on Sept. 13 on Disney+.

After a deadly plane crash strands four young siblings deep within the Amazon, a dramatic rescue mission unfolds, uniting Indigenous trackers and the Colombian military in a race against time. For the first time ever, LOST IN THE JUNGLE offers the exclusive account of this incredible true story directly from the children themselves and the rescuers who scoured the rainforest for a grueling 40 days and nights to find them. LOST IN THE JUNGLE is a gripping tale of survival, courage and hope.

"Chai and Jimmy are gifted storytellers whose inspiring films celebrate unlikely heroes who push the limits of human potential. We're delighted to partner with them once again, alongside talented Colombian filmmaker Juan Camilo Cruz and our longtime collaborators at Lightbox - truly a powerhouse team," said Carolyn Bernstein, EVP of Documentary Films at National Geographic. "The journey of these courageous children is nothing short of astonishing, and we're so proud to bring their unforgettable story to the world."

"Our work has always been about the raw power of the human spirit - its ability to rise, unite and overcome. LOST IN THE JUNGLE is that spirit in its purest form," said Vasarhelyi. "Teaming up with Juan Camilo Cruz is a true privilege. His powerful vision and deep connection to Colombia bring authenticity and heart that elevate this film at every level."

"This story intrigued us from the very first time we heard about it," added director Jimmy Chin. Working with Juan and the amazing team in Colombia allowed us to really showcase incredible details about the rescue and survival like never before. We hope audiences leave as inspired as we were by Lesly and the powerful partnership among the rescue teams."

"As a Colombian filmmaker, I'm deeply proud to tell a story that honors Indigenous people and the wisdom rooted in their land," said Camilo Cruz. "LOST IN THE JUNGLE is a tribute to the extraordinary courage of four children - true heroes - and a reminder of the Colombian jungle's true value, far beyond its resources. For me, their journey is a powerful example of what Colombia can be: When we set aside our differences and come together, we can achieve the impossible. That's a message the world urgently needs to hear."

Producers Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn added: "The story of LOST IN THE JUNGLE is one of the most extraordinary stories about the courage, strength and resilience of four Indigenous Colombian children. With Guillermo Galdos of Pacha Films, we were hugely privileged to be able to secure unprecedented access to the children themselves, to tell their inspirational story for the very first time. We are so happy to be working with our good friends at National Geographic Documentary Films once again and to be collaborating with directors Juan Camilo Cruz, Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin for the first time."

Chai Vasarhelyi is an Academy(R) Award-winning filmmaker known for her critically acclaimed documentaries, including "Free Solo," which earned an Oscar(R), a BAFTA, and seven Emmys. She co-directed "The Rescue," "Return to Space," and "Meru" and has received honors from Sundance, BAFTA, DGA and Peabody Awards. In 2023, she directed her first scripted feature, "Nyad" for Netflix, earning Oscar nominations for both lead actors. Her additional upcoming 2025 release includes National Geographic Documentary Films' "Love+War."

Jimmy Chin is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, National Geographic photographer, and elite climber who has led and documented groundbreaking expeditions for over two decades. He won an Oscar and BAFTA for co-directing "Free Solo," which also earned seven Emmys, and later co-directed the Netflix scripted feature "Nyad," earning Oscar nominations for its lead actors. His upcoming 2025 release includes National Geographic Documentary Films' "Love+War." His additional work includes "The Rescue," "Meru," and the Nat Geo series "Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin."

Juan Camilo Cruz, an Emmy and BAFTA winner, was executive producer of Apple TV+'s "Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend" (2023), chronicling Lionel Messi's 2022 World Cup journey. He has produced acclaimed documentaries, including Netflix's "In Her Hands," and worked with Oscar-nominated directors on "City of Ghosts" and "The Boy from Medellín" for Amazon Studios. As a director, his work includes "Venezuela: Country of Lost Children" (2023) and "A Simple Soldier" (2025), which premiered at Sheffield DocFest.

LOST IN THE JUNGLE is presented by National Geographic Documentary Films and is a Little Monster Films production in association with Lightbox, Pacha Films, Señal Colombia and Demolition Films. The film is directed and produced by Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin and Juan Camilo Cruz. Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn of Lightbox serve as producers along with Mark Grieco, Anna Barnes and Guillermo Galdos. Executive producers include Carolyn Bernstein and Tim Horsburgh with National Geographic Documentary Films, along with Josh Braun, Luis Del Valle and Hollman Morris. The project participated in the CINA Incentive (Audiovisual Investment Certificate), granted by the Colombian government and administered by Proimágenes Colombia: a tax discount equivalent to 35% of the expenditure on audiovisual services in the country.

#NatGeo | #LostintheJungle | #DisneyPlus | #Hulu Instagram: @NatGeoDocs | @DisneyPlus | @Hulu Facebook: @NatGeoDocs | @DisneyPlus | @Hulu TikTok: @NatGeo | | @natgeotv | @DisneyPlus | @Hulu X: @NatGeoDocs | @DisneyPlus | @Hulu

# # #

National Geographic Documentary Films

National Geographic Documentary Films, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, is committed to bringing the world premium, feature documentaries that cover timely, provocative and globally relevant stories from the very best documentary filmmakers. Its award-winning and critically acclaimed films reach 300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages across the global National Geographic channels and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Recent films include Oscar-nominated "Sugarcane," Oscar-nominated "Bobi Wine: The People's President," Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated "Fire of Love," three-time Emmy Award winner "The First Wave," Emmy Award winner "Endurance," two-time Sundance Award winner "The Territory," BAFTA nominees "The Rescue" and "Becoming Cousteau," and Oscar and BAFTA winner "Free Solo." For more information, visit films.nationalgeographic.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Little Monster Films

Little Monster Films is an Academy, BAFTA and multiple Emmy Award-winning production company founded by Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. Our mission is to capture humanity at its best, aiming to reflect a diverse world both in front of and behind the camera. The studio presents grounded narratives with intensity and depth while showcasing the extraordinary among us who push the limits of human potential. The 2021 documentary "The Rescue," about the world-famous rescue of the boys' soccer team from a cave in Thailand, won the People's Choice Award for Best Documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival, was nominated for a BAFTA, and won three News & Documentary Emmys. Previously, the groundbreaking film "Free Solo" was awarded a BAFTA and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019. The film also received seven Emmy Awards. Little Monster's latest film, "Wild Life," an environmentalist love story, recently premiered in theaters and on Disney+. The studio's first scripted feature, "Nyad," about Diana Nyad's 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida, began streaming on Netflix in the fall of 2023 and garnered Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG nominations for its stars, Jodie Foster and Annette Bening. Our latest series with National Geographic - the Emmy and Peabody award-winning "Photographer -" is now streaming on Disney+. www.littlemonsterfilms.com

About Lightbox

Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, Lightbox is a multiplatform, award-winning media company, creating high-quality content for an array of distribution platforms and theatrical release. It was founded by two-time Academy Award-winning producer Simon Chinn ("Man on Wire," "Searching for Sugar Man") and Emmy Award-winning producer Jonathan Chinn ("LA 92," "American High"). Lightbox's recent productions include "Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time," executive produced by Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler for National Geographic, "What They Found," directed by Academy Award-winner Sam Mendes for the BBC; "The Diamond Heist," executive produced by Guy Ritchie for Netflix; "The Mission," for theatrical release and National Geographic, which premiered at Telluride and the London Film Festival; BAFTA-nominated "David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived," which premiered at DOC NYC and aired on HBO/Max and Sky; "Spector" for Showtime and Sky; "The Princess," directed by Academy Award-nominated Ed Perkins, for theatrical release, HBO and Sky, which premiered at Sundance; and Emmy Award-nominated "Tina," directed by Academy Award-winners TJ Lindsay and Daniel Martin, for HBO/Max, Sky and theatrical release. The company is currently in production on projects for a range of U.S., U.K. and international broadcasters, platforms and for theatrical release.