Wonder and woe, though seemingly opposites, are deeply interconnected aspects of contemporary ecological experience. This program features new short films from around the globe, exploring the angst, awe, complexity, and joy of being in our living world.

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SEAWEED STORIES

USA | 2024 | 30 minutes
Dir. Jake Sumner

Narrated by Forest Whitaker, this vibrant, globetrotting documentary explores the wonders of seaweed, and some of the extraordinary stories and characters whose lives have been entangled by this often overlooked marine organism, which may hold answers to some of humanity’s biggest challenges. SEAWEED STORIES includes insights from a Silicon Valley startup creating plastic alternatives from macroalgae, Indigenous Shinnecock Kelp Farmers using seaweed to prove their sovereign right to coastal land, and a scientist in South Korea supporting seaweeds’ sexual reproduction to create new species that can withstand the effects of a changing climate.

THE HIDDEN COST

Spain | 2023 | 29 minutes
Dir. Pablo Zareceansky Montserrat

This nuanced documentary examines the impacts that the European green transition is having in Chile and Argentina. It’s an invitation to listen to people on the frontlines of this so-called “progress” and to consider how we might evolve our thinking, technology, and communities to move into the future in a better way.

IN MY TIME

The Netherlands | 2024 | 23 minutes
Dir. Katalin Fikkert

When millennial Julia is forced to move back in with her boomer father Piet, the generational conflict is reflected in whether or not to cut down the old tree in front of the house.

AMERICAN GRAIL

USA | 2023 | 16 minutes
Dir. Andy Sarjahani

The siren call of the Ivory-billed woodpecker lures a New York based tantra and sex educator into the swamps of the American South on a 17-year journey to prove that the iconic bird still exists. Along the way, he finds a tendril of hope in the face of disbelief and climate change.

ALDO'S BUG EXTRAVAGANZA

USA | 2024 | 6 minutes
Dirs. Neil Losin and Aldo Losin

Join 5-year-old Aldo and his dad on a backyard safari filled with tiny wonders. With a camera and boundless curiosity, Aldo embarks on a bug-hunting escapade, narrating his discoveries with charming wonder. As the week unfolds, Aldo's wide-eyed exploration echoes the timeless wisdom of Aldo Leopold, making for a delightful ode to the joy of nature's smallest marvels.