Since the dawn of time, storytelling in community has shaped our mindset, our outlook and ultimately, our behavior. With record heat, oscillating droughts & floods, fires, melting glaciers (and ... you know the rest) our current narrative needs some course correcting.

All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) is back for a 5th edition, pan-India cultural event. Join us at Whistling Woods International for a unique evening of cinema, art & community. Watch award-winning global films on regeneration, activism, resilience and hope and engage in conversations with India’s most inspiring change-makers. Let’s restore the narrative of stewardship, together. All are welcome!

PROGRAM:

30th November, Saturday

11:00 - 11:15 AM : Some Thoughts on the Common Toad

11:15 - 11:45 AM : Moon Without a House

11:45 - 1:00 PM : Esther & the Law

1:00 - 1:30 PM : Discussion/Sharing circle

1:30 - 2:00 PM : Break

2:00 - 2:15 PM : Last Days of Summer

2:15 - 3:10 PM : New Boats

3:10 - 4:10 PM : A warning and a catalogue: The Great Nicobar Betrayal, with Prof. Pankaj Sheksaria (IIT-B)

4:10 - 5:40 PM : Demon Mineral

5:40 - 6:00 PM : Discussion/Sharing circle

1st December, Sunday

11:00 - 11:15 AM : Ullarivu (The Awakening)

11:15 - 11:40 AM : Batsies

11:40 - 1:00 PM : No Winter Holidays

1:00 - 1:30 PM : Discussion/Sharing circle

1:30 - 2:00 PM : Break

2:00 - 2:20 PM : Lunatic

2:20 - 2:40 PM : Crying Glacier

2:40 - 3:40 PM : Podcasting and BioAcoustics: Where Journalists and Storytellers Meet (Mongabay)

3:40 - 4:00 PM : A Body Called Life

4:00 - 5:15 PM : The Night Visitors

5:15 - 6:00 PM : Q&A with filmmaker of Night Visitors (online)

7th December, Saturday

11:00 - 11:30 AM : Submerged

11:30 - 11:45 AM : The Legend of Goldhorn

11:45 - 12:10 PM : Saving The Bone-Swallower

12:10 - 12:45 PM : Q&A with Saving The Bone-swallower

12:45 - 1:35 PM : A Flaming Forest

1:35 - 2:00 PM : Break

2:00 - 4:00 PM : Climate Storytelling workshop by PARI

4:00 - 4:15 PM : Quick Break

4:15 - 5:40 PM : Plastic People

5:40 - 6:00 PM : Discussion/Sharing circle

8th December, Sunday

11:00 - 11:20 AM : ABBA

11:20 - 11:35 AM : Wild Summon

11:35 - 12:00 PM : Further and Further Away

12:00 - 12:30 PM : Discussion/Sharing circle

12:30 - 1:00 PM : Break

1:00 - 1:20 PM : Lullaby of waves

1:20 - 1:45 PM : Tomorrow, the Burning Heavens

1:45 - 3:00 PM : Nenets vs Gas

3:00 - 3:45 PM : Climate Solutions, Greenwashing and Renewable Energy: a talk by Land Conflict Watch

3:45 - 5:30 PM : My Mercury

5:30 - 6:00 PM : ALT EFF Voices: With prompts and/or select curation provided by us, this is an open-mic for audiences to express themselves

PROGRAM DETAILS:

Some Thoughts on the Common Toad (G. Anthony Svatek | USA | 10 mins 37 secs | English | 2023) INDIA PREMIERE

Some Thoughts on the Common Toad is a compelling cine-collage manifesto that defends the essence of beauty in an age marked by political cynicism and environmental alienation. Drawing inspiration from George Orwell`s thought-provoking essay, the film features a poignant narration by Tilda Swinton, whose voice brings a profound depth to the visuals. Through a rich tapestry of images and sound, Svatek explores the significance of the common toad as a symbol of natural beauty and ecological importance. 

Moon Without a House (Atanur Nabiyeva | Azerbaijan | 22 mins 03 secs | Azerbaijani | 2023)

Moon Without a House (Atanur Nabiyeva) explores the lives of a grandmother and granddaughter named Tazaghul, who live in a remote Azerbaijani mountain hut. Through serene visuals, the film reveals their deep bond and enduring resilience against a backdrop of desolation. The name "Tazaghul," meaning "fresh flowers," contrasts with their rugged surroundings, symbolising hope and love in isolation. The film poignantly captures their vanishing way of life and emotional strength.

Esther & the Law (Tatiana Scheltema | Netherlands | 1 hr 12 mins | English, Dutch, Yoruba | 2023) INDIA PREMIERE

For decades, Esther Kiobel has been fighting for justice for her husband, one of the nine men executed in 1995 after revolting against Shell`s pollution of Ogoniland (Nigeria). Almost 25 years later, Esther takes Shell to court in the Netherlands. This powerful documentary tells the story of one woman`s fight against the might of a massive multinational corporation.

Last Days of Summer (Stenzin Tankong | India, France | 14 mins 57 secs | Boti (Ladakhi) | 2023)

Last Days of Summer follows two young shepherds in the remote Himalayas who hear a mysterious sound that no one else in their village can. Dismissed by the villagers, the pair embark on a brave journey into the unknown to uncover the source of the unsettling noise, confronting a mystery that challenges their courage and curiosity.

New Boats (Lansana Mansaray a.k.a Barmmy Boy | Sierra Leone, South Africa | 49 mins | English, Krio, Temne | 2022) INDIA PREMIERE

The village of Tombo, once thriving on sustainable fishing, now faces decline due to overfishing by foreign trawlers, known locally as chigie-chorga, with corrupt government support. As the fish population dwindles, the women who process and sell the catch lose their livelihoods, and men are forced to seek work abroad. Amidst the corruption and neglect, Sullay and Woodie strive to unite their community and protect their way of life, but the challenges are immense. 

Demon Mineral (Hadley Austin | USA | 1 hr 29 mins | Diné, English | 2023) INDIA PREMIERE

Demon Mineral documents the ongoing struggle of indigenous communities in the radioactive deserts of the American Southwest. Spanning the breadth of the Navajo Nation, in a landscape perforated by abandoned uranium mines, the film unearths the thousand-years-long project of reclaiming sacred homeland, shedding light on the enduring connection between the Navajo people and their environment.

Ullarivu (The Awakening) (Sumi Mathai | India | 14 mins 10 secs | Malayalam | 2023)

Ullarivu (The Awakening) follows a young girl whose deep connection with nature is shattered by the harsh realities of a patriarchal society. She has always found joy and belonging in exploring the natural world, but her sense of freedom is challenged when she realises that her access to this world is restricted by her gender. 

Raised in a family with deeply ingrained patriarchal values, she faces a mother who avoids touching plants during menstruation and a father who restricts her movements to protect her. As she observes the limited freedoms allowed to girls compared to boys, she is forced to confront these constraints. Over the course of a single day, she comes to understand the unspoken rules governing her life as a girl and begins to grasp the patriarchal oppression that shapes her world.

Batsies (Liz Unger | USA | 15 mins 22 secs | English | 2023) INDIA PREMIERE

Batsies is an experimental short documentary about two wildlife biologists, Sara Weaver and Sarah Fritts, who challenge the stigma surrounding bats. Based in Texas, these quirky, tattooed women tackle cutting-edge bat research, focusing on threats from wind turbines. Despite the crucial role bats play in agriculture, their public image has worsened since COVID-19. The film highlights their unique friendship and dedication to saving these misunderstood creatures.

No Winter Holidays (Rajan Kathet, Sunir Pandey | Nepal, South Korea, Romania | 1 hr 19 mins | Nepali | 2023)

No Winter Holidays follows Ratima and Kalima, two widows of the same man, who find themselves as the sole caretakers of their deserted village. Now in the twilight of their lives, they must set aside their shared past and rely on each other to endure the long, harsh winter. The film observes them navigate the stark isolation and abandonment of their village.

Lunatic (Robin Noorda | Netherlands | 16 mins | English | 2024)

The film follows Antonio, a lonely astronaut stranded on the moon after coming out. With the Moon Guard statue symbolising protection against space debris, Antonio confronts the threat of Kessler syndrome, which endangers communications with cascading collisions. He tries terraforming the moon and meets the all-knowing `I Am AI,` who narrates. Reflecting on humanity’s impact, Antonio muses: “It is one small scrap by man, one giant heap by mankind.”

Crying Glacier (Lutz Stautner, Philipp Becker | Germany, Switzerland | 14 mins 13 secs | English | 2023) INDIA PREMIERE

The louder the glacier, the stronger the melt. The creaking, cracking and rippling is the voice of impermanence. Sound artist Ludwig Berger shows how important it is to listen to the world that surrounds us. The film follows him on one of his numerous visits to Morteratsch glacier in the Swiss Alps, where he collects fascinating sounds that might disappear forever. 

A Body Called Life (Spencer MacDonald | USA, Switzerland, Poland | 14 mins 51 secs | English | 2024) INDIA PREMIERE

In A Body Called Life, reclusive young man James explores the world of microscopic organisms, forming a deep connection with these tiny creatures and gaining a significant online following. Through this journey, he seeks to understand his place in the universe and confront his past scars. The film, adapted from James’s Instagram posts and featuring a score by Dan Deacon, is a personal exploration of self-discovery and healing.

The Night Visitors (Michael Gitlin | USA | 1 hr 12 mins | English | 2023) INDIA PREMIERE

The Night Visitors, an experimental documentary about moths, offers a window into a hidden world that is both beautiful and strange. In large and small fragments, through a lens that is by turns social and personal, the film closely examines moths as aesthetic beings and as carriers of meaning.

Submerged (Iqbal Hussain | India | 24 mins 27 secs | Nimadi, Hindi | 2023)

Kotmir, a village in Dharaji Panchayat, faced submergence due to the Omkareshwar Dam but its residents stayed put, refusing to leave due to unresolved compensation. During the COVID-19 lockdown, these migrant labourers returned home only to find their village`s panchayat dissolved and no local authority to address their issues, as the villages were officially classified as "under the submergence area."

The Legend of Goldhorn (Lea Vucko | Slovenia | 13 mins 35 secs | No Dialogue | 2022)

A heartbroken hunter, driven by grief and madness, ventures into the mountains, and goes against the mythical power of nature. Haunted by visions of his lost love, he is led by a shadowy guide to hunt the mythical Goldhorn, which ultimately leads to his demise. This 13-minute, dialogue-free film, inspired by Slovenian folklore, explores themes of greed and our relationship with nature, enhanced by a traditional Slavic musical score.

Saving The Bone-Swallower (Mayuresh Hendre | India | 16 mins 29 secs | English, Assamese | 2023)

Saving the Bone-swallower explores the fight for survival of the critically endangered Greater Adjutant storks, with fewer than 2,000 left globally. The film follows Purnima Devi Barman, a grassroots conservationist, who mobilises rural Assamese women to save these birds from a desolate landfill while providing new livelihoods. Alongside Dr. Samshul Ali, they raise two orphaned stork chicks, showcasing the power of community-based conservation and the deep bond between humans and nature.

A Flaming Forest (Salman Javeed, Satya Ambasta, Vivek Sangwan | India | 48 mins 27 secs | Kannada, English | 2024) INDIA PREMIERE

Exclusionary conservation practices in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve have displaced Soliga adivasis from the forests they have historically inhabited. The film documents their intimate relationship with the forest, displacement induced loss and resistance against such policies, calling for an alternative vision to conservation. 

Plastic People (Ben Addelman, Ziya Tong | Canada | 1 hr 21 mins | English | 2024) INDIA PREMIERE

Plastic People is a landmark feature documentary that explores humanity’s complex and often troubling relationship with plastic. The film follows one woman’s determined mission to uncover and expose shocking new revelations about the impact of microplastics on human health. The documentary reveals how microscopic plastic particles have infiltrated every aspect of our environment—air, water, soil—and have now made their way into our bodies, posing significant health risks. Plastic People challenges viewers to confront the pervasive and insidious nature of plastic pollution and calls for urgent action to address this global crisis.

ABBA (Fabiana Lupo | Italy | 14 mins 29 secs | Italian | 2023) INDIA PREMIERE

A gripping short film that follows two astronauts who land on a planet eerily similar to the Earth their ancestors left behind. Their mission to find water evolves into a profound journey of self-discovery and reflection on humanity`s past. Through stunning visuals and deep narrative, the film explores existential themes of identity, history, and redemption.

Wild Summon (Karni and Saul | UK | 14 mins 39 secs | English | 2023) INDIA PREMIERE

Wild Summon, directed by Karni and Saul, is a natural history fantasy that portrays the wild salmon`s life cycle in human form. Narrated by Marianne Faithfull, the film follows the salmon`s epic journey from freshwater birth to oceanic adulthood and back. This BFI short film blends myth and nature, offering a unique perspective on the profound connection between these remarkable creatures and their environment.

Further and Further Away (Polen LY| Cambodia | 23 mins 39 secs | Bunong, Khmer | 2022)

A young indigenous Bunong woman and her older brother spend one last day in their rural village in northeastern Cambodia, before an impending move to the capital city in search of a more prosperous life. While her brother is excited for the move, she senses a quiet desire to return to their long-gone village that was lost to the development of a nearby hydroelectric dam a few years earlier.

Lullaby of waves (Ayon Pratim Saikia | India | 15 mins 20 secs | Assamese | 2023)

A 53-year-old woman reflects on 26 years of marriage and motherhood, focusing on her struggles for employment in Assam’s remote Sadiya region, divided by the Brahmaputra River. Viewed as an outsider, she faced challenges to her home and identity. Narrated by her son, the film explores themes of belonging, resilience, and the enduring impact of the river on their lives as they question whether this land is truly home.

Tomorrow, the Burning Heavens (Max Bloching | Germany | 22 mins 06 secs | German | 2024) INDIA PREMIERE

This short film explores the 1560s` ‘Little Ice Age’ and its apocalyptic fears, illustrated in hand-coloured woodblock prints. The film juxtaposes these historical anxieties with modern-day artificial winter landscapes in the Alps, created for skiing resorts. By merging past and present, it examines how image-making, technology, and faith interact amidst environmental crises, reflecting on our evolving perceptions of nature and climate change.

Nenets vs Gas (Sergio Ghizzardi | France, Belgium, Norway, Finland | 1 hr 14 mins | English, Russian, Nenets | 2023) INDIA PREMIERE

In the heart of the Arctic, the Yamal peninsula is the world’s largest gas exploitation zone, a symbol of Russia’s energy hyperpower. The NENETS have been pasturing here for over 200 generations. Can they survive this industrialisation? An environmental and Arctic western, this film explores the emergence of the Northern Sea Route and the disappearance of the last Siberian route of transhumance: the success of one may mean the extinction of the other.  

My Mercury (Joëlle Chesselet, Pippa Erhlich | UK, USA | 1 hr 37 mins | English | 2023)

A passionate conservationist makes a cruel pact to save endangered seabirds from extinction on an inhospitable island, alone. In the end, it’s a victory for the birds, but at what price? The protagonist`s intervention in this eco-psychological documentary reflects the kinds of choices we are facing in a world that we’re destroying.