Heartwood (Memoria Nueva)

Dir. Stefano Petroni

61' • Italy • 2019

A young Italian activist visits ancient cultures in Latin America to learn how to stop the spread of agricultural destruction and in the process, his life is changed forever (2019). The film is supported by Slow Food, Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford.

Copper Mountains (Kuparivuoret)

Dir. Carolin Koss

45' • Finland • 2018

During a trip to the small town of Karabash by the Ural mountains, artist and filmmaker Carolin Koss felt compelled to capture the shocking effects of environmental pollution caused by excessive industrial exploitation. She started interviewing people, who call this seemingly post-apocalyptic place home. On her journey through the surrounding area, she encountered harrowing stories of survival, resignation, transformation and resilience. Avoiding sensationalism, Copper Mountains tells the story of a disturbing reality in achingly beautiful pictures. Copper Mountains premiered as part of the official selection at Savonlinna International Nature Film Festival in 2018. It was selected for the Media Library 2019 | Visions du Réel, Festival international de cinéma Nyon and was awarded “Best Female Director” at Edera Film Festival by the DSFS (Donne Si Fa Storia) jury in 2019.

No Island Like Home

Dir. Giulio Gobbetti & Jan Stöckel

45' • United Kingdom • 2019

After a devastating volcanic eruption in 1995, the beautiful Caribbean island of Montserrat experienced a mass exodus. But many refused to leave, despite the social and economic destruction the volcano caused. Can a community torn apart by the force of nature ever truly recover? More than two decades ago, the volcano in Montserrat exploded with catastrophic consequences. Although many years have since passed, Celeste vividly remembers the eruption. She lost her life’s work: the shop she owned on the island’s capital. Today, where her shop once stood, lays an ash-coated ghost town. However, much like the regrowth of vegetation across the land, the community has a new-found vitality. Youngsters race cars on abandoned streets, taking back what the volcano stole from them. Mappie, a gardener, hikes with us through the thick rainforest: “The volcano does a range of good and bad” he says. “People thought Montserratians would have left. But I’m staying.” Yet, the volcano, under observation by scientists, lurks menacingly in the background. As everyday life unfolds, the most awaited day of the year arrives - St Patrick's day. It is a litmus test: will people fill the streets, resilient? Or will the streets remain empty, signalling a community broken beyond repair?

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**SCREENING SELECTION 2020**

The Hunter Legacy

Dir. Hunter Sykes

76' • United States • 2019

Today, a million species are threatened with extinction because of humans. Nowhere is this reality for wildlife more pronounced than in Kenya. In a country the size of Texas with twice the number of people, the population explosion is putting humans and wildlife in constant competition for limited resources and space. It’s the perfect recipe for conflict. This film is the first documentary to tell the real story behind Kenya’s present-day struggles with human-wildlife conflict. Using never-before-seen video footage from 1937 of renowned Big Game hunter-turned conservationist J.A. Hunter, we are guided through Kenya by his grandson, Alex Hunter, to learn about the on-ground efforts of four conservancies. Each offers a unique approach to mitigating the often-tragic encounters between humans and wildlife. While many conservation films focus solely on wildlife, The Hunter Legacy demonstrates how holistic conservation for both wildlife and communities is the only path forward if we want to find effective solutions to save many magnificent species that are on the brink of extinction.