Award-Winning Shorts Block

Award-Winning Shorts Block


April 27, 2024

FLORA, FAUNA, FUNGA - dir. Sam Sheline

This film follows mycologist Giuliana Furci’s search for new mushrooms on the island of Tierra del Fuego. She’s joined by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, whose goal is to map the mycorrhizal networks of the world. Together, these scientists illuminate how—through nutrient cycling and the essential relationships they form with plants—fungi underpin every ecosystem on Earth.

MODERN GOOSE - dir. Karsten Wall

Able to navigate by reading the Earth’s magnetic field, equally at home on land, air, and water, geese straddle the territory between ancient instincts and the contemporary world. Combining beauty, humor, and profound empathy, director Karsten Wall’s exquisitely observed film essay explores the daily life of these iconic animals to convey a deeper message of continuity and connection.

PUFFLING - dir. Jessica Bishopp

Every summer, Birta and Selma rescue pufflings (young puffins) at night on an island off the coast of Iceland. The pufflings leave their nests for the first time, following the light of the moon to make their journey out to sea and transition into adulthood. Unfortunately, the pufflings get lost in town, mistaking harbor lights for the moon. Birta and Selma must take it upon themselves to counteract the human impact on nature, exchanging night-time parties for puffin patrol.

SCHOOL OF FISH- dir. Colin Arisman, Oliver Sutro

The lives of Indigenous people and salmon have been intertwined for thousands of years in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Today, kids must not only learn from their elders how to fish, but also how to fight. For the last century, corporations have sought to extract the wealth of this rich region. SCHOOL OF FISH offers an intimate portrait of one family's seasonal salmon rituals and their connection to the Bristol Bay Guide Academy, where local youth are empowered through fly-fishing to protect their homes.

GRASPING THE NETTLE - dir. Mairi Eyres

Nettles sting our bare legs, invade our gardens, and swamp our footpaths. Yet for filmmaker Mairi Eyres, there is something about this plant that captures her imagination. She embarks on a journey to learn more, metting people who can show her a different side to the nettle. With beautiful imagery and touching characters, this film is a call to examine the way we view nature, and to appreciate the wonders right on our doorstep.

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