Filmstill "Hvladimir: Conversation with a Whale"

Filmstill "Standing Above the Clouds"

Filmstill "I am the Rriver, the River is Me"

Filmstill "Hidden Dance of Eels"

Filmstill "The Giants"

Unveiling Nature's Mysteries

We explore the mysteries of nature, from the elusive spawning grounds of eels to the fight to preserve ancient trees and Indigenous lands, while also delving into the ethical implications of scientific research.

Where eels spawn and how exactly they reproduce is one of marine biology’s unsolved mysteries. A group of international scientists sets out to find the place where these endangered fish potentially spawn their offspring. The camera follows their journey in Hidden Dance of Eels. In The Giants, we follow Australian politician and environmental activist Bob Brown, who has dedicated himself to saving the world’s tallest deciduous trees, Tasmania’s giant eucalyptuses. And in Standing Above, we learn about how Indigenous populations are mounting resistance against construction projects on their lands. All these films have one thing in common: they show us the wonders of nature—and present us with good reasons to protect and respect our environment.

Film

The Giants

11. Oct / 17:30 / Kant Kino

12. Oct / 17:30 / Colosseum Filmtheater

Australian politician and environmental activist Bob Brown has dedicated his life to saving the world’s tallest deciduous trees, Tasmania’s giant eucalyptuses. A journey through more than fifty years of his work as an activist and Australia’s first openly gay MP.

Film

Hidden Dance of Eels

12. Oct / 17:30 / Kant Kino

13. Oct / 18:30 / Festival Center D'24

Where eels spawn and how exactly they reproduce is one of marine biology’s unsolved mysteries. A group of international scientists sets out to find the eels’ suspected birthplace. Can they learn enough about these endangered fish to save them?

Film

Standing Above the Clouds

13. Oct / 20:00 / Colosseum Filmtheater

15. Oct / 18:00 / Kant Kino

20. Oct / 19:30 / Zeiss-Großplanetarium

When the construction of a thirty-metre-high telescope on the Hawaiian mountain Mauna Kea is proposed, a global movement of kiaʻi (protectors) rises up. This film tells the story of three women fighting on the front lines to protect their sacred mountain.

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Beyond the Ordinary: Nature's Inspiring Tales

Embark on a journey of discovery with beautiful films. Witness the extraordinary bond between a spy whale and human researchers in Hvladimir:Conversations with a Whale, follow the heartwarming tale of an orphaned elephant's search for family in Diary of an Elephant Orphan, and explore the profound connection between a river and its indigenous guardians in I am the River the River is Me. From the depths of the ocean to the lush landscapes of New Zealand, these films offer a glimpse into the remarkable stories of nature's creatures and the people who fight to protect them.

Film

Diary of an Elephant Orphan

17. Oct / 20:30 / Zeiss-Großplanetarium

18. Oct / 17:30 / Kant Kino

A baby elephant has lost its parents. Since a wild elephant family is unlikely to accept an orphaned youngster, wildlife conservationists set out to find a herd of orphaned elephants that was rescued twenty-five years ago in order to ensure the baby elephant’s survival.

Film

Hvaldimir: Conversation with a Whale

11. Oct / 20:00 / Colosseum Filmtheater

18. Oct / 18:00 / Zeiss-Großplanetarium

Off the coast of Norway, a beluga whale suddenly appears sporting some unusual gear. The whale seems to have escaped from a Russian military base where whales and dolphins are trained for espionage purposes. This is the intriguing story of the ‘spy whale’.

Film

I Am the River, the River Is Me

14. Oct / 14:30 / Festival Center D'24

15. Oct / 20:30 / City Kino Wedding

17. Oct / 21:00 / ACUDkino

Māori river guardian Ned Tapa explores the important culture of his ancestors along the Whanganui River in New Zealand with friends. The river is the first in the world to be granted as legal personhood. For over 150 years, the Whanganui iwi have been fighting to protect their sacred lifeline.

Beyond the Screen: Immersive Explorations of Nature and Culture

Join us for a series of thought-provoking convversationsthat delve into the complex intersections of nature, ethics, and human progress. Discover the secrets of the natural world in our D'Salon Unveiling Nature's Mysteries, explore ethical boundaries in the D'Salon Beyond Progress, and experience the power of storytelling through the immersive virtual reality experience Origen that is part of our exhibition in our Festival Centre.

Virtual Experience

Origen

10. Oct / 10:00 / Festival Center D'24

Mythological beings guide you through the rainforest and the memories, teachings, and stories of the Shipibo people in this virtual reality experience. Emilia Sánchez Chiquetti allows nature itself to become the storyteller. A reflection on how we coexist with nature.