Revitalizing Indigenous languages through film: The story of Runa Simi

The Peruvian film documenting a community-led effort to dub The Lion King in Quechua tells a wider story of Indigenous language revitalization, showing how media can strengthen cultural pride, engage youth, and expand access to Indigenous languages, in line with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032).

Fernando’s story reminds us of the importance of protecting identity through language, and of cinema’s power to build bridges. We hope our film sparks conversations not only about movies in Indigenous languages, but also about the rights Indigenous Peoples continue to fight for. - Augusto ZegarraDirector of Runa Simi

Centered on the most widely spoken Indigenous language in South America, the documentary Runa Simi raises awareness about the limited access to audiovisual content and linguistic exclusion, contributing to a wider conversation on Indigenous rights and cultural preservation.

What began as Fernando Valencia’s personal initiative evolves into a powerful example of how media can serve as a tool for empowerment, education, and policy dialogue. Through the intergenerational narrative between father and son, the film highlights the importance of engaging younger generations in preserving linguistic heritage. It also demonstrates the transformative impact of small, community-driven efforts in sustaining and revitalizing a language, ultimately conveying a message of cultural survival, pride, and continuity across generations.

The film is supported by an impact programme that extends beyond the screen through community, and school screenings with guided discussions, as well as workshops introducing youth to dubbing. It also connects and trains Indigenous voice artists, strengthening professional networks. Reaching audiences in 41 cities worldwide, the initiative fosters youth engagement, promotes linguistic pride, and expands access to Quechua content, while supporting education, identity, and intergenerational knowledge through community-led approaches.

This creative project conveys that preserving and celebrating Indigenous languages is an act of cultural pride, empowerment, and continuity for future generations and, therefore, strongly resonates with the objectives of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022–2032), promoting the use of Indigenous languages across media, education, and cultural spaces.

By dubbing a globally recognized animated film, Runa Simi shows how these languages can thrive in contemporary formats, in line with the Decade’s Global Action Plan’s call for accessible and engaging content. It also highlights the importance of creating content for children, showing how hearing their language in beloved stories fosters pride, identity, and belonging, with the participation of Fernando’s son, Dylan, exemplifying the Decade’s focus on youth as vital agents of language revitalization.

****

The United Nations General Assembly (Resolution A/RES/74/135) proclaimed 2022-2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to raise global awareness of the urgent need to preserve, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages worldwide. UNESCO’s Communication and Information Sector leads the Decade’s implementation in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and other relevant UN Agencies.