BLOCK 1 - 2:00pm
The Collection Is Alive
DIRECTOR: FLEUR CARTWRIGHT
00:11
The role of volunteers in conservation often goes unnoticed, but this short documentary brings their vital work into focus. Inside the vivarium at Manchester Museum, volunteers work alongside scientists and curators to protect and care for rare and endangered amphibians, forming a deep connection with these often-overlooked, wonderfully quirky animals.
Palau, An Ocean Inheritance
DIRECTORS: SKYLAR CHEN, RAYNE SULLIVAN
00:19
"Palau, An Ocean Inheritance" transports viewers to the incredible islands of Palau, where ancient legends, cultural connections, and unparalleled marine biodiversity converge. This documentary celebrates Palau’s natural wonders, from vibrant coral ecosystems to the majestic species that call these waters home. At the film’s core is a powerful call for ocean justice, a recognition that ocean solutions can be found in Indigenous knowledge and community-led stewardship.
WAR ZONE OTTER
DIRECTOR: MARINA PAI
00:27
Born to shellfire, a local man unexpectedly documented these endangered creatures thriving among abandoned bunkers. As the world marks the 80th anniversary of WWII’s end, Otter emerges as a peaceful ambassador. This film is dedicated to all who lived and still live beneath the skies of war.
Masai Mara: Kingdom of the Wild
DIRECTOR: GOUTHAM SHANKAR
00:45
Step into the beating heart of Africa’s greatest wilderness — the Masai Mara. Told through immersive visuals, rich sound design, and a meditative voice-over, Masai Mara: Kingdom of the Wild brings to life the raw and poetic journey of nature’s most iconic creatures. From the maternal tenderness of a cheetah to the suspense of a wildebeest’s first leap into crocodile-infested waters, this film captures the ancient drama of the savanna in cinematic detail.
BLOCK 2 - 4:00pm
The Leap Beneath
DIRECTOR: ROMAN WILLY
00:04
Narrated by Coyote Peterson, this film dives into the hidden world beneath the forest floor. Follow a springtail’s clumsy quest for food through a bustling ecosystem where mites, beetles, and other tiny creatures keep the forest alive.
Raindrop - The Journey of Water
DIRECTOR: MARCO DOMINIK GRAF
01:40
Hardly any element on our planet is more important than water. Wherever there is water, life thrives. Yet few people know about the remarkable creatures that navigate their daily existence in the water’s natural habitats. Far from our sight, true dramas and glories unfold every day—stories that almost no one ever witnesses. Stories full of adventure, tragedy, humor, and even love.
BLOCK 3 - 6:00pm
The Last Common Hamsters
DIRECTOR: DAVID CEBULLA
01:58
Nature filmmaker David Cebulla wants to observe the world's last common hamsters before they might disappear forever. To this end, he sets out in six different countries in search of the endangered species.
BLOCK 4 - 8:00pm
Kāinga Tupu
DIRECTOR: KĀ'EO LUKE
00:02
Kāinga Tupu ("Homeland") is a 2D hand-drawn film that brings attention to New Zealand’s endangered forest parrot, the Kākāpō. This story follows the bird as he explores his home. But, something doesn't seem right. Noises and lights in the distance seem to be coming faster and faster. The forest monsters approach...
Snakes My Love
DIRECTOR: THIGE NJUGUNA
00:13
SOCIETY OF CROWS
DIRECTOR: MIKE MCKINLAY
00:30
Ornithologist and artist Dr. Rob Butler explores the complicated and beautiful lives of crows while looking back on a lifetime of corvid obsession.
The Power of One
DIRECTORS: ALEX VALDEZ, PABLO DE LA FUENTE
00:54
A team of documentary filmmakers travel to a secret ecological sanctuary deep in the jungles of Colombia, where a conservationist planted 10,000 trees in a deforested field to rebuild an endangered ecosystem. Together, they embark on a mission to tell his inspiring story and realize his dream of turning this area into a proper nature reserve.
BLOCK 1 - 2:00pm
Gypaetus: The Last Bone Breaker
DIRECTOR: JUAN DE LA CUEVA ALDEA
00:18
In the breathtaking Pyrenees mountains, between Spain and France we journey through the eyes of the lammergeier, a majestic bird facing the challenges of survival.
Gringo Cofán
DIRECTORS: VERONICA MOSCOSO
01:30
GRINGO COFÁN is an intimate portrait of Randy Borman’s extraordinary life. Born in 1955 in the Ecuadorian Amazon and raised among the Cofán people, Randy was the son of American missionaries who grew up fully immersed in Cofán culture, adopting their language, worldview, and deep connection to nature as part of his own identity.
BLOCK 2 - 4:00pm
Secrets of Great Salt Lake
DIRECTOR: TYLER MIFFLIN
00:45
An uplifting story of how water connects all life on Earth.
Journey back to when mammoths, camels and saber-toothed cats roamed the ancient shores of Lake Bonneville and witness its transformation into Great Salt Lake, caused by one of the largest floods in history!
City of Shells: Hong Kong’s Forgotten Oyster Reefs
DIRECTOR: MICHAEL WAYNE SAKAS
01:04
City of Shells: Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs (香江遺礁) follows local scientists and explorers as they uncover the hidden history and ecological legacy of these reefs in the Pearl River Delta, and then work to rebuild this keystone ecosystem in the estuarine waters of Hong Kong.
BLOCK 3 - 6:00pm
Sitka's Hidden Wonders
DIRECTOR: BEN HAMILTON
00:42
Sitka’s Hidden Wonders is a 40-minute theatrical nature film that blends sweeping cinematography with a deeply personal story of return. Told by award–winning wildlife filmmaker Ben Hamilton, the film explores what it means to truly see a place—through the hidden layers of one of Alaska’s wildest coastal ecosystems.
Bloody trophy
DIRECTOR: EWA GALICA
00:58
Although one may think that hunting rhinos in Africa does not apply in polish society, Polish haunters hold the record of importing rhino horns from South Africa. What’s interesting that those valuable trophies were usually missing just after their shipment to Poland. Investigators wanted to examine this occurrence. What did they find? Is it possible for the dog to eat the rhino horn?
BLOCK 4 - 8:00pm
Melrakki the Arctic Fox, Queen of Kvíar
DIRECTORS: DAVID P. GLATZ, SHIELA P. GLATZ
00:10
The film follows the journey of Melrakki, a female Arctic Fox living in Kvíar, a remote village in Iceland. Winter here is harsh, but the fox is built for Arctic conditions. She features impressive physical adaptations designed to keep her alive, warm and dry. Her personality, intelligence and ability to co-exist with humans allow her to thrive in this rugged and unforgiving place.
Un Río en el Río: Fuimos Mar, Somos Río
DIRECTOR: ANDREA VILLARREAL RODRÍGUEZ
00:12
In Monterrey, Mexico's industrial capital, biologist and illustrator Mar Aguilar discovers the hidden beauty of the forgotten Santa Catarina River. Through her art, she reveals the life that has managed to flourish among the concrete, defying the infrastructure projects that threaten to invade its banks. In Mar's hands, the river ceases to be an obstacle and becomes a symbol of resilience, strengthening the collective fight for its conservation.
Chasing Lions
DIRECTORS: ERIC BRAKER, CAMERON MELLIN, STEPHEN CATALANO
00:22
The hunt to save the America's most elusive predator. With fascinating and rugged characters, to up-close encounters with one of the most feared and elusive predators of the West, "Chasing Lions" is a film that puts the audience in the action, tracking and collaring mountain lions in one of the last great American wilderness areas. A story of passion, sacrifice, duty and dedication.
Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness
DIRECTOR: SANDESH KADUR
01:15
A land of sacred peaks & secret creatures, lost in the mists of time, somewhere between folklore and magic. A land that has challenged conventional notions of wilderness and showcased nature's remarkable ability to adapt and thrive in a new wilderness. This is a story of India's very first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – the Nilgiris – one of Asia’s most intensively studied areas.
BLOCK 1 - 2:00pm
THE OPPORTUNIST, THE VICTIM AND THE CUPRID
DIRECTOR: MERTENS DOMINIQUE
00:05
Secrets of Great Salt Lake
DIRECTOR: TYLER MIFFLIN
00:45
An uplifting story of how water connects all life on Earth.
Journey back to when mammoths, camels and saber-toothed cats roamed the ancient shores of Lake Bonneville and witness its transformation into Great Salt Lake, caused by one of the largest floods in history!
Forest of colours - Thailand's Tenasserim Hills
DIRECTOR: MIGUEL ANTON
00:52
This documentary shows intimate portraits of animals rarely seen on television, but it also poses deeper questions about the mysteries of perception and evolution: why they have such wonderful colours, what it takes to sustain those colours in the jungle, and just as importantly – what may those colours look like to the animals themselves.
BLOCK 2 - 4:00pm
Gazing at Mount Da-Jian
DIRECTOR: FAN TZU LIU
00:24
Kenting National Park is the first national park in Taiwan and was established on January 1, 1984. 40 years since its establishment, inheriting the past and forging ahead with the future. The 40th Anniversary feature-length film takes the form of a feature film mixed with a documentary. It depicts the conservation achievement of Kenting all the way.
Camino de Santiago a Santiago
DIRECTOR: MIGUEL VILLEGAS
00:27
Wildlife 2.0 - Adapting To A New World
DIRECTOR: PATRICK CENTURIONI
00:52
Modern landscapes—characterized by buildings, industrial areas, and roads—are increasingly shaping not only cities but also rural areas in Central Europe. For many wild animals, this is everyday reality, forcing them to adapt. At the same time, conservation efforts, shaped by modern approaches, are creating new habitats.
BLOCK 3 - 6:00pm
Catapults to Cameras
DIRECTOR: ASHWIKA KAPUR
00:39
In Catapults to Cameras, Kolkata-born wildlife filmmaker Ashwika Kapur sets out on a deeply personal quest to uncover the roots of an illegal wildlife hunting festival in the forests of her home state West Bengal.
Her Shark Story
DIRECTOR: IGNACIO WALKER
01:16
This is the story of Sofia, a young marine biologist from Galapagos in Ecuador, who reconnects with her absent father through their shared passion for trying to save the biggest shark in the world, the Whale Shark.
BLOCK 4 - 8:00pm
In Search of the Arctic Fox
DIRECTOR: ZACH HELLMUTH
00:18
After filmmaker Zach Hellmuth and his wife nearly lost their daughter due to a fetal maternal hemorrhage, they began taking family walks outside to help her develop and cope with cerebral palsy. These outings opened Hellmuth’s eyes anew to the beauty of nature — and foxes in particular, thanks to a lucky encounter.
ZUBR
DIRECTOR: GILES PITMAN
00:29
Don, a bison ranger, embarks on a journey to the Białowieża Forest in Poland, where he uncovers how these gentle giants are transforming ecosystems.
Sitka's Hidden Wonders
DIRECTOR: BEN HAMILTON
00:42
Sitka’s Hidden Wonders is a 40-minute theatrical nature film that blends sweeping cinematography with a deeply personal story of return. Told by award–winning wildlife filmmaker Ben Hamilton, the film explores what it means to truly see a place—through the hidden layers of one of Alaska’s wildest coastal ecosystems.
Mobula, the devil's legend
DIRECTORS: PIERRE LÉO PAUL, PIERRE-ETIENNE
00:51
Every summer, off the coast of Corsica, an extraordinary and discreet spectacle takes place: the gathering of a mysterious species called the "Sea Devil." Threatened with extinction, this gentle Mediterranean giant, as majestic as it is little-known, needs immediate protection.
BLOCK 1 - 2:00pm
GODDESS
DIRECTOR: DEAN CROPP
00:08
Goddess is an enchanting short that takes you on a poetic journey beneath the waves. Through the voice of a diver, this cinematic love letter celebrates the breathtaking beauty of underwater life, inviting you to connect deeply with the ocean’s wonders. Prepare to be mesmerised by this celebration of nature’s majesty and humanity’s bond with the sea.
Penguins of the Point
DIRECTOR: DEREK ROBITAILLE
00:17
Penguins of the Point is a short wildlife documentary that explores the daily lives of penguins at Volunteer Point in the Falkland Islands, showcasing the resilience of these remarkable birds as they face both predators and modern threats such as climate change, commercial fishing, and avian influenza.
CHOIBA THE DANCE OF THE HUMPBACK WHALE
DIRECTOR: SIMÓN GONZÁLEZ VÉLEZ
01:20
This film tells the story of a group of documentary filmmakers who decide to learn from the great journey of the humpback whale, following its sacred migration, from the coasts of the Colombian Pacific to the cold waters of Antarctica.
BLOCK 2 - 4:00pm
The Detectorists
DIRECTOR: SARAH-JANE WALSH
00:05
The Detectorists is a coming-of-age story about Cariad, a young detection dog learning to use her powerful nose to help protect wildlife.
Sanctuary - Return of the Eastern Bettong
DIRECTOR: RORY BLACKBOURN-ROONEY
00:08
Raindrop - The Journey of Water
DIRECTOR: MARCO DOMINIK GRAF
01:40
Hardly any element on our planet is more important than water. Wherever there is water, life thrives. Yet few people know about the remarkable creatures that navigate their daily existence in the water’s natural habitats. Far from our sight, true dramas and glories unfold every day—stories that almost no one ever witnesses. Stories full of adventure, tragedy, humor, and even love.
BLOCK 3 - 6:00pm
Kāinga Tupu
DIRECTOR: KĀ'EO LUKE
00:02
Kāinga Tupu ("Homeland") is a 2D hand-drawn film that brings attention to New Zealand’s endangered forest parrot, the Kākāpō. This story follows the bird as he explores his home. But, something doesn't seem right. Noises and lights in the distance seem to be coming faster and faster. The forest monsters approach...
Snakes My Love
DIRECTOR: THIGE NJUGUNA
00:13
SOCIETY OF CROWS
DIRECTOR: MIKE MCKINLAY
00:30
Ornithologist and artist Dr. Rob Butler explores the complicated and beautiful lives of crows while looking back on a lifetime of corvid obsession.
Kingdom of Fish-Ep1 The power of water
DIRECTOR: MARTIN FALKLIND
00:57
Many fish need free-flowing water in order to reproduce. But in rivers and streams, they are often obstructed by hydroelectric dams and other obstacles that we humans have built. Martin Falklind explores the possibilities of helping the fish to roam freely. We also meet Sweden's first inhabitants after the ice age, the char, and 12-year-old Edvin, who does everything he can to help fish.
BLOCK 4 - 8:00pm
