Lost in the Jungle Trailer and Key Art From National Geographic

Today, National Geographic Documentary Films released the trailer and key art for Lost in the Jungle, from the award-winning directing and producing team of Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (Free Solo, The Rescue), and Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning filmmaker Juan Camilo Cruz (In Her Hands, Messi’s World Cup).

For the first time, 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 the Telluride Film Festival this weekend, the film will air on National Geographic on Friday, September 12, at 9/8 p.m. and stream globally on Disney+ starting September 13.

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 Award-winning filmmaker known for her critically acclaimed documentaries, including Free Solo, which earned an Oscar, 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 upcoming 2025 release, also scheduled for 2025, 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 a 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 collaborated 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.

Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn of Lightbox serve as producers along with Mark Grieco, Anna Barnes, and Guillermo Galdos. The 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), a tax discount granted by the Colombian government and administered by Proimágenes Colombia, equivalent to 35% of the expenditure on audiovisual services in the country.