Dir. Marianna Milhorat
2024, USA, 70 min
Rated 18A
A poetic portrait of contemporary wildlife conservation, Just Above the Surface of the Earth reflects on empathy, agency, and the role of hope in the midst of a sixth mass extinction. This debut nonfiction feature examines scientists and citizen scientists who conduct surveys of frogs, which serve as an indicator species; study sea stars threatened by disease; track bats whose populations have been decimated by white-nose syndrome; and collect data on insects declining at unprecedented rates. Set primarily at night, the film weaves together observational and lyrical sequences, texts written by authors including W.S. Merwin and Adam Nicolson, and an otherworldly soundscape.
Just Above the Surface of the Earth is a visceral, sensory meditation on what it means to live in a broken world.
Plays with Who Loves The Sun
Dir. Arshia Shakiba
2024, Syria, Canada, 20 min
Arabic with English subtitles
In war-torn northern Syria, Who Loves the Sun delves into the world of makeshift oil refineries and the stark realities of life within this post-apocalyptic landscape. Mahmood is a prominent figure in these operations, navigating harsh working conditions and complex local dynamics.
