Lost Kings of Bioko

Feature - Best in Festival | Best in Conservation Category

Director: Oliver Goetzl

Country of Origin: Germany
2019

Off the coast of Central Africa lies an isolated island, covered by primeval rainforest and surrounded by dark ocean waters, inhabited by a greater variety of species than nearly any other place on Earth this terra incognita is called BIOKO. The ruler of this realm is one of the world’s least known primate species, the drill. Historically revered, indigenous folklore tells us of a drill king who ruled the island’s forests, a place where drills still play a critical role in the health of an ecosystem known to scientists as a biodiversity hotspot. Bordering this kingdom is the black sand coastline, an ancient nesting ground for giant sea turtles and home to natural wonders. This film explores the secret lives of drills and their mysterious island home as we follow a family group and a newborn who discovers this tropical paradise with all its challenges for the first time.

Kokoly

Short - Best in Festival | Best in Biographies Category

Director: Blue Ventures
Representative Tom Collinson ATTENDING

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
2019

Kokoly offers an insight into the life of an incredible woman.
Against a backdrop of extreme poverty, personal loss and a marine environment changing beyond her control, Kokoly lives on a knife edge. Kokoly follows a traditional Vezo fisherwoman Madame Kokoly – as she reflects on her life experiences and carries out her daily routine in and around the coastal waters of southwest Madagascar. This film features female-only voices from one of Africa’s most remote regions.

Director’s Statement:

The film is a powerful and personal exploration of how one woman is navigating her daily life against a backdrop of poverty and marine biodiversity loss. It’s important that voices from marginalised communities are amplified; communities who will bear the brunt of the effects of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. We hope this film will be a valuable contribution to this conversation.

Threats in the Northern Seas

Director: Jacques Loeuille

Country of Origin: France
2018

About three billions tons of chemical and conventionnal warfare lay in the bottom of the North and Baltic sea. These silent witnesses of both World Wars have become a true treat for the environment. How and why were these weapons dumped in the sea and is this massive propagation of highly toxic products evitable?​

The Director takes us to Bornholm (Germany), to the Skarregak Straight (between Finland and Denmark), to the French North sea and Channel coasts, to the South of England, to Knokke Heist (Belgium), The Netherlands and Denmark. He dives to witness, bring testimony and defend the cause of our seas’s survival.

By Hand

Igniting Passion for Nature Award Winner

Director: Kellen Keene
ATTENDING

Country of Origin: United States
2019

In an attempt to escape comfort, reconnect to the natural world and set a new bar for ocean adventure, twin brothers Casey and Ryan Higginbotham made a decision that would reshape their lives. On March 18th, 2016 they embarked on a 2,200-mile paddle from Alaska to Mexico with 18- foot paddle boards. The brothers carried nothing more than two dry bags of gear each and a camera. No support boats, no paddles, nothing similar to gauge off of. Nothing like this has ever been done.

“As far as expeditions go, its got to be up there as one of the most difficult trips of any kind” – Jimmy Chin

“It’s like summiting Mount Everest for the first time” – Kelly Slater

Raised with a never-quit mentality on stories of the men in their family that came before them, the expedition forces the arch rivals to set aside a past filled with intense clashes in an attempt to grow into a team.

The Beaver Believers

Audience Favorite Award Winner

Director: Sarah Koenigsberg

Country of Origin: United States
2018

The Beaver Believers shares the urgent yet whimsical story of an unlikely cadre of activists – a biologist, a hydrologist, a botanist, an ecologist, a psychologist, and a hairdresser – who share a common goal: restoring the North American Beaver, that most industrious, ingenious, furry little bucktoothed engineer, to the watersheds of the American West. The Beaver Believers encourage us to embrace a new paradigm for managing our western lands, one that seeks to partner with the natural world rather than overpower it. As a keystone species, beaver enrich their ecosystems, creating the biodiversity, complexity, and resiliency our watersheds need to absorb the impacts of climate change. Beavers can show us the way and even do much of the work for us, if only we can find the humility to trust in the restorative power of nature and our own ability to play a positive role within it. Shot in 8 western US states, Mexico, and Canada, through desert drought, raging wild fires, spring floods, and the peaceful calm of wetlands, this film will change the way you think about climate change and inspire you to take a bite out of the challenges we face, one stick at a time.

Saliega’s Lineage, the Return of the Iberian Lynx

Audience Favorite Award Winner

Director: Javier Ortega Martínez

Country of Origin: Spain
2019

More than the tiger. Much more than the snow leopard. The Iberian lynx is the most threatened feline on the planet.

At the beginning of this century, it was one step away from its definitive extinction. There were scarcely a hundred and fifty copies of this beautiful and unique animal, since it is only found in the Iberian Peninsula.

Then Saliega arrived. This female was the first to carry out a litter of Iberian lynx in captivity. With Saliega, who now lives quietly his last years in the Botanical Zoo of Jerez de la Frontera, an ambitious project was launched to recover the Iberian Lynx that is not only getting new litters of lynxes, but is also managing to reintroduce young lynxes in what was the natural habitat of its species, the Mediterranean forest.

The history of Saliega and many others arising from the work of the enthusiastic group of biologists, veterinarians, naturalists and professionals involved in a project involving two countries of the EU, Spain and Portugal, will give content to our documentary film. And also to know how is the life of the lynxes that initiate a new life in freedom and that of those that have been reigning for some time in the sierras and valleys of the southern half of the peninsula.

Queen Without Land

Feature - Best in Adventure Category

Director: Asgeir Helgestad

Composer: Julian Cisneros
ATTENDING

Country of Origin: Norway
2018

This is a true story on the meeting between Frost, a beautiful polar bear mother, and Asgeir Helgestad, a Norwegian wildlife filmmaker. It is a four-year journey on Svalbard. Rising temperatures, are responsible for dramatic changes in Frost’s ecosystem as the ice is melting at record speed. From complete darkness to the absolute light of the midnight sun, Svalbard transforms from a cold and inhospitable place to the most joyous and lively scenery for ice algae, fish, birds and animals. But alongside these seasonal transformations, the disappearing sea ice forces life to new limits. Fjords that were once full of ice and seals, get abandoned pushing Frost further away. Asgeir is determined to find her and document all that is being lost, but his task is far from easy. This film explores the question “this planet is home to all of us, can we afford to ignore it?”

ICEolation

Short - Best in Adventure Category

Directors: Sophie Ballagh and Ewan Blyth
Representative Tom Collinson ATTENDING

Country of Origin: Antarctica
2019

Two People, two weeks, two kayaks.
Sophie and Ewan took a journey beyond wilderness, a self supported journey via sea kayak to connect with an uninhabited land of ice and penguins.

The film takes you with them on their journey from the preparations of planning such an expedition, through the challenges and riding the highs of Antarctica.

Together, Ewan and Sophie have insatiable appetite for exploration, self-discovery and living a life that embraces all that they have and all that they are. Their strengths in life and in the outdoors are highly complimentary and have seen them build a partnership of solid technical skills and knowledge, sound risk management and calculated decision making. And through these shared and combined values, they worked together and have tackled numerous adventures together in many corners of the globe, always a solid team in even the most demanding scenarios.

83° Ski the North

Feature - Best in Outdoors & Out of Bounds Category

Director: Matthias Mayr

Country of Origin: Austria
2019

Seeking to find the most beautiful and remote places on planet earth, the two adventurers Matthias “Hauni“ Haunholder and Matthias Mayr were once again successful.

Less than 800 kilometres away from the north pole you can find the Arctic Cordillera. It is the most northern mountain range of the world, located on Ellesmere Island. Getting there and skiing the most northern slopes is Hauni’s and Matthias’ next major goal.

Simply getting there is an adventure. The north of Ellesmere Island isn’t only one of the most remote places on earth, but also one of the coldest. On their journey up north the two adventurers face major athletic challenges, meet up with the Inuit who actively support their plans, and they have to accept that they won’t be taking on the role of the alpha leader on this trip…

One Breath Around the World

Short - Best in Outdoors & Out of Bounds Category

Director: Guillaume Néry

Country of Origin: France
2019

French apnea champion Guillaume Néry and his also free driver wife Julie Gautier take viewers on an underwater odyssey across the globe. Shooting in locations from Mauritius to Mexico to Japan and many stops in between, Néry and Gautier draw on their extensive experience to explore submerged ruins, swim beneath a thick sheet of ice, mingle with a pod of sleeping sperm whales. In the process, they capture mesmerizing images of parts of the planet unseen by most of its human inhabitants.

Its objective is to raise awareness about the care of our ocean, showing its wildest and most amazing side. As the director says, “when you like something, you take care of it”, that is precisely the intention of this short film.

Ferret Town

Short - Best in Conservation Category

Director: Virginia Moore

Country of Origin: United States
2018

The black-footed ferret was thought to be extinct when a small population was discovered in a remote corner of Wyoming in 1981, setting off an urgent race to recover the species from only 18 animals. This film follows the ongoing efforts of many dedicated individuals to return the black-footed ferret to ranches outside Meeteetse, a small, tight-knit community at the epicenter of the discovery almost 35 years ago. Central to the film is the charismatic mammal itself, both cute and ferocious, a predator that gives meaning to an entire ecosystem. Reared in captivity from the original Meeteese stock, black-footed ferrets have now been released at over 24 sites throughout North America, but they still have a long way to go towards recovery. “Ferret Town” presents one of the best conservation stories in the United States, posing the question- how far will we go to save one species?

Director’s Statement:

At 19 years old, I was inspired to become a documentary filmmaker, driven to help provide a voice to under-represented populations and issues. My career has been defined by working with small, independent film companies where I can be involved in all levels of production and creative decision making. Pursuing adventure and wilderness, I moved to Canada and worked exclusively on natural history films, covering dozens of species from caribou to wolverines. Upon returning to Wyoming, I was approached by a Museum director to do a film about black-footed ferrets, a critically endangered species with a remarkable survival story. Diving into the details, I discovered a rich and complex history, compelling archival material, and the sudden possibility that these charismatic creatures, having come so close to extinction, would finally be returned to the place where they were rediscovered over 30 years ago. All of the elements were there to create a compelling film, and my passion for these animals sustained the ups and downs of independent filmmaking for three years. I’m so excited for this story to finally reach an audience, who I hope will grow to love and appreciate this tenacious creature, and be encouraged to learn more about black-footed ferret conservation efforts throughout North America. With so many species now facing the possibility of extinction, the story of black-footed ferrets offers important lessons for anyone interested in endangered species recovery.

The Earthing Movie:
The Remarkable Science of Grounding

Feature - Best in Biographies Category

Directors: Josh & Rebecca Tickell

Country of Origin: United States
2019

The Earthing Movie reveals the scientific phenomenon of how we can heal our bodies by doing the simplest thing that a person can do… standing barefoot on the earth. A host of recent scientific studies reveal the stunning and consistent benefits of the electromagnetic relationship between the human body and the Earth. Called “earthing” or “grounding,” connecting bare skin to the ground for extended periods of time can significantly reduce inflammation leading to often dramatic health benefits. Along with Deepak Chopra, actress Amy Smart and filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell, The Earthing Movie will take you on a surprising healing journey.

Carrizo Plain – A Sense of Place

Short - Best in Scenic Category

Director: Jeff McLoughlin

ATTENDING

Country of Origin: United States
2019

Carrizo Plain – A Sense of Place is a cinematic journey into a remarkable remnant of early California — the Carrizo Plain National Monument. Explored through the eyes of three artists, Chris Chapman, John Iwerks, and Bill Dewey, the Carrizo Plain comes to life in this 32-minute documentary that reveals the special character of this hidden landscape. Through their personal sense of place, we discover what makes the Carrizo Plain National Monument and places like it so important for us all.

Director’s Statement:

Carrizo Plain – A Sense of Place is a cinematic journey into a remarkable remnant of early California — the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The film is a companion piece to an exhibition at the Wildling Museum of Art & Nature, “Celebrating the National Lands of California”.

The film profiles the work and words of three artists with decades-long experience in interpreting the sublime beauty of the Carrizo Plain National Monument. Located at the eastern edge of San Luis Obispo County in Central California, the Carrizo is the state’s last remaining remnant grassland. It provides a window into early California as it would have appeared prior to the gold rush.

Every person has a unique way of seeing a place as well as interpreting its value on a human level. The intellectual concept of what makes a landscape unique as well as the emotional connection that a special place holds for them reflect in ways that are profound to each individual. Combined, this constitutes their personal “Sense of Place”.

Subjects of a film like this one are all multifaceted characters with busy creative lives of their own. The artists were lending time and energy to a documentary film production with faith that the story I planned to tell would be worthy and reflective of who they are and the love they share for the Carrizo. For me as a producer, the job is to coax out authentic reflections of the plain that reveals the artist’s level of passion and enhances the viewer’s understanding. Each artist had his or her own story and expertise, much of which was unknown to me at the inception of filming. Such is the wonderful onion that is documentary filmmaking.

Six Mile Stretch

Short - Best in Animation Category

Director: Carol Chambers

Country of Origin: United States
2018

This is a hand-painted film from the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It is an artist’s response to the last wild six mile stretch of the Bear River that is under threat of inundation from a new dam planned for the river (Centennial Dam). There is a movement in the local community to stop the dam being built to protect this last bit of wilderness along its banks. The film is an artist’s response to this beautiful place, and is dedicated to all who strive to protect the remaining wild places of our world. The film is an oil painting animation.

Director’s Statement:

This film is a moving painting. It utilizes a combination of old and new techniques. Some of the scenes are animated with traditional hand-painted animation, using oils on canvas and painted cels. In the background scenery, the brushstrokes are made to move with newer, computer enhanced techniques.

Yikásdáhí – Awaits the Dawn

Short - Best in Student Category

Directors: Gabriela Clar

Country of Origin: Argentina
2018

When the time comes to create the sky chart, the Black God takes his blueprints and a sack filled with stars to set about creating the constellations. But things get complicated when his actions catch the eye of Coyote, a troublemaker who thinks any excuse is good enough to make some mischief. Based on a Navajo legend.

Director’s Statement:

This short film is based on a Navajo legend about the creation of the constellations. I wanted to tell this story using cut out animation, trying to make it as visually interesting as posible, and making sure you could get what happens without the need of any dialogue.

Free Solo

Feature- Best in Festival Award Winner | Best in Outdoors & Out of Bounds Category

Directors: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyir & Jimmy Chin

Country of Origin: United States
2018

From award-winning filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned filmmaker, cinematographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin (MERU) comes the Academy Award-nominated film FREE SOLO, a breathtaking portrait of the free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares for an unprecedented feat: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock…the 3,000 ft El Capitan in Yosemite National Park…without a rope. Celebrated as one of the greatest athletic accomplishments of any kind, Honnold’s climb proved that the limit of human achievement is far from being reached.

FREE SOLO is an edge-of-your seat thriller and an inspiring portrait of an athlete who challenges both his body and his beliefs on a quest to triumph over the impossible, revealing the personal toll of excellence.As the climber begins his training, the armor of invincibility he’s built up over decades unexpectedly breaks apart when Honnold begins to fall in love, threatening his focus and giving way to injury and setbacks.Vasarhelyi and Chin succeed in beautifully capturing deeply human moments with Honnold as well as the death-defying climb with exquisite artistry and masterful, vertigo-inducing camerawork. The result is a triumph of the human spirit that represents what The New York Times calls “a miraculous opportunity for the rest of us to experience the human sublime.”

Producers: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin,  Evan Hayes, and Shannon Dill
Executive Producers: Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Tim Pastore, and Matt Renner
Editor: Bob Eisenhardt, ACE
Directors of Photography: Jimmy Chin, Clair Popkin, Mikey Schaefer
Music by: Marco Beltrami
Gravity Performed by: Tim McGraw
Music Supervisor: Tracy McKnight
Professional Rock Climber, Film Subject: Alex Honnold
Credits:
National Geographic Documentary Films Present
A Little Monster Films Production
An Itinerant Media Production
A Parkes+MacDonald/Image Nation Production

Loved by All: The Story of Apa Sherpa

Short - Best in Festival Award Winner | Best in Biography Category

Directors: Eric Crosland

Country of Origin: Canada
2017

Every spring the summit of Mount Everest draws people from around the world. But in its shadow live the Sherpa, a resilient, religious people, who, despite the riches surrounding the highest peak on earth, are still quite poor and uneducated.

He climbed Mount Everest 21 times, more than any other human. But he wouldn’t wish this for anyone. As a child, growing up in Nepal’s remote Khumbu Valley, Apa Sherpa had to walk three hours to school…one way. He dreamt of being a doctor. But at the age of 12, after his father passed away, he took a job as a porter to support his family. Despite the risks of one of the world’s most dangerous jobs, he would become a Himalayan legend.

Loved by All: The Story of Apa Sherpa documents the present day struggles of Pemba Sherpa, a young boy who’s life path mirrors Apa when he was a child, and the work of the Apa Sherpa Foundation, as it aims to give the children of rural Nepal new opportunities. According to Apa, “without education you have no choice.”

Producer: Malcolm Sangster
DP: Leo Horn
Cinematography: Eric Crosland, Erik Pütsep
Drone / Camera Assist: Clay Mitchell
Editor: Jay Macmillan
Visual Effects: Jeremy Kenning
Written by: Mitchell Scott, Jay Macmillan, Malcolm Sangster
Associate Producers: Dave Mossop, Mitchell Scott, Jerry Mika
Additional Cinematography: Everest Media Productions, Strange Than Fiction Films, Renan Ozturk, Ralf Dujmovits
Post Production Supervisor: Tim Symes
Colorist: Eric Rosen
Sound Design & Mix: Jeff Yellen
Location Sound: Steve Henderson
Production Manager: Roland Eksteins
Still Photography: Paul Arthur Lockhart
Executive Producers: Magnus Welander, Tina Liselius, Erik Pütsep
Narrated by: Apa Sherpa
Custom Score by: Jacob Yoffee
Special thanks to the Apa Sherpa Foundation and Thule.

Boy Nomad

The Dan Conaway Award Winner   Best in Kids Connecting to Nature Category

Directors: Niobe Thompson & Dennis Wells

Country of Origin: Canada
2018

Boy Nomad follows a year in the life of 9-yeard old Janibek, who lives with his family in Mongolia’s Altai Mountains. His first love is racing horses, but this winter, his father will bring him on the toughest journey in a nomad’s life: the winter migration. When the film crew arrives, they discover the Altai is gripped by a “zhut”, a hard winter that blocks the passes and threatens to wipe out the family’s only possession: their animals.

Says Director Thompson, “Janibek takes us on a journey any of us would consider a serious expedition, beset by extreme cold, isolation and the risks of the alpine world. Because of these challenges, the winter migration has never been filmed before. As we crossed the most inaccessible passes, I was separated from my film crew for long stretches of time and the film relies partly on footage I shot from horseback. We slept in stone huts along the route, bringing hay to keep the livestock alive on the back of a camel. Our herd of horses broke a trail for the smaller animals, and all the time, we dreaded when our goats and sheep would begin dropping their babies.

Yet looking at Janibek smiling through the storms, we realize that he is at home on the back of a horse. There is nowhere else a Kazakh boy would rather be. A coming-of-age story from the roof of the world.”

Producer: Niobe Thompson
Cinematography: aAron Munsen, Daron Donahue
Editor: Scott Parker
Composer: Darren Fung