2010 – 2011
Mugabe's Elephants
Sharon Pincott, despite harassment, physical abuse and being accused of being a spy, has formed one of the most remarkable relationships between humans and wild elephants ever documented. She breaks all the rules of wildlife observation when she reaches out and touches Lady, one of the Presidential Herd’s matriarchs. The dramatic, but inspiring, story of Lady and the 400-strong elephant herd unfold to reveal the emotions of these giants – joy, mourning, playfulness, jealousy and anger. But the herd is under threat. In desperation, Sharon seeks an audience with Robert Mugabe to convince him to reaffirm the 21-year-old Presidential Decree that protects this remarkable herd of wild elephants.
Michaela’s Penguin Rescue
‘Cape Town has been my adopted home for nearly 10 years and these flightless little birds practically live on my doorstep. I have become really passionate about these charismatic penguins and have decided to do my bit to help.’ Michaela Strachan is about to join one of AFRICA’S BIGGEST PENGUIN CHICK RESCUES finding out why their numbers have crashed so dramatically and what can be done to save them.
Saving Rhino Phila
From deep within a conflict emerges a powerful emotional story of survival. A new breed of poachers has recently gone to war on South Africa’s rhino population and against all odds; one rhino has survived their bullets. Her name is Phila. Phila's story lures us into a world of organized crime and millionaire poachers, armed to the teeth with automatic weapons, helicopters and night vision goggles. A host of offbeat characters are drawn into Phila’s world: From her owner and his shattered dreams to wildlife veterinarians arrested for poaching. From crack police units to glamorous landowners lacing their rhino’s horns with poison.
Stranded
The stormy morning of the 31 of May 2009 changed the lives of many people in the small coastal town of Kommetjie in Cape Town, South Africa. To the horror of the residents the sandy beach was the scene of a massive stranding of 55 False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens). During the early hours the majority of the animals were still alive and slowly being suffocated by their own weight. The public responded swiftly to return the whales back to the sea, as time passed more people gathered to help in a bitterly cold morning, many of them suffering hypothermia and risking their own lives.
2009 – 2010 Catalogue
Into the Dragon’s Lair
A terrifying journey into the darkest underwaters of the Okavango Delta – marine photographer Roger Horrocks along with veteran diver Didier Noirot follow the giant Nile crocodile into what most would consider a death-trap. His almost obsessive drive to connect with this ancient creature will mean facing a host of dangerous encounters. Read More
- HONORABLE MENTION: For Cinematography – IWFF 2010
- NOMINATED: Sondrio Festival 2010
- FINALIST: Sound Award - Wildscreen Panda Awards 2010, winners announced in October 2010
- FINALIST: International People & Animals Award - Wildscreen Panda Awards 2010, winners announced in October 2010
- FIRST RUNNER UP: Best Camera Award - International NaturVision Film Festival 2010
- FINALIST: Broadcast Award - BLUE Ocean Film Festival 2010
- WINNER: Excellence in Underwater Cinematography Award - BLUE Ocean Film Festival 2010
- FINALIST: Original Music Score Award - BLUE Ocean Film Festival 2010
- SCREENING: Planet in Focus: International Environmental Film & Video Festival October 13-17, 2010
Rainbow Nature
Against the dry, earthy landscape of the Orange River region, this film details the colourful presence of the striking Rainbow Lizard, the surrounding Augrabies Waterfall, and the myths and legends sustained by the area’s local communities. Read More
The Giant Pink S
The worldwide-acclaimed success story of an S-shaped island breeding facility for the threatened Lesser Flamingos is short-lived when the excesses of man begin to encroach upon this beautiful sanctuary. Read More
- SELECTED: For highlighting problems concerning the environment, its conservation, human activities and sustainable development – Sondrio Festival 2010, winners announced in October 2010.
Chameleon
A cross-continental, cinematographic spectacular, which examines the weird and wonderful chameleons of the world – delving into a macro look at their strange alien-like characteristics and mysterious aura. Read More
Camp Raiders
The Kruger National Park receives hordes of tourists with high expectations of spotting the Big Five on the ultimate African safari. Some leave disappointed; however one guaranteed sighting is the charismatic crew of camp-dwelling animals – from squirrels stealing crumbs to monkeys executing burglaries - witness what the park’s regulars get up to on a daily basis. Read More
Animal Nation
We live in a cacophony of man-made stimulation – entertainment, city noises, and instantaneous communication, the list is endless. However some people silence the distractions of life, and tap into the voices of the natural world. This coming-of-age film takes a much needed look at what this exploration can mean to us. Read More
The Kalahari
It's a battle for life for the animals that dwell within the severe conditions of South Africa’s Kalahari desert - adaptation overrules size and strength. For the wildlife population of this diverse desert it’s a daily battle to get through the dry season, for the audience a fascinating demonstration of nature's immense capacity to survive. Read More
Dangerous Trails, Elephants in the Minefields
Displaced by decades of war, both the people and animals of Angola have slowly begun a journey back home to rediscover their ancestral lands. A moving film which chronicles the thousands of elephants who have mapped routes through a country riddled with land mines, and enthralled onlookers with their apparent ability to detect and avoid the remains of man’s violations. Read More
2008 - 2009 Catalogue
A Kalahari Tail
A story about character-filled squirrels of the Kalahari Desert, and their adaptation in order to survive the ever-challenging conditions of the desert. Read More
- WINNER: Merit Award for Animal Behaviour – IWFF 2009
- WINNER: ROSCAR Award for best Natural History Production with a Limited Budget – Wild Talk Africa 2009
- AWARD: Jury Recognition – Japan Wildlife Film Festival 2009
- SELECTED FOR COMPETITION: Sondrio Festival 2010, winners announced in October 2010.
Antarctica – Journey into the White Desert
This film explores South Africa’s role in the greatest wilderness on earth and showcases some of the groundbreaking research that could make a difference to our survival on this planet. Read More
- HONORABLE MENTION: For Creative Approach – IWFF 2010
- HONORABLE MENTION: For Storytelling – IWFF 2010
The Story of the Great Desert Wanderers
This film reveals the life of the Namib Desert Elephants, and the environment they have had to become accustomed to, to ensure their survival and preserve their home. Read More
Dragon Mountains
An entrancing documentary which transports viewers to fossilized remnants of "Massypondyris" and its unhatched eggs that contain the oldest dinosaur embryo in the world. Shot on the Drakensberg Mountains, this film surveys a whole new dimension of the geological and paleontological wonders of this mountain. Read More
The Search for the Knysna Elephants
Very little is known about the elephants of the Knysna Forest because it is difficult to study an animal that you cannot find, some even doubt their existence. In this documentary, we follow the search for the proof of the existence of the Knysna Elephants. Read More
- HONORABLE MENTION: For Graphics and Animation – IWFF 2010
Gorillas: A Journey for Survival
This world class story governed by emotive footage relates a memorable anecdote, and celebrates the role played by the Gorillas as they became true ambassadors, having travelled through more countries than an average human being. Read More
- SELECTED FOR SCREENING: Ecozine International Film Festival and Environment 2010, 14-23 May, Zaragoza, Spain
How to Catch a Crocodile
Think you’ve got what it takes to catch a crocodile!? This unbelievable look how a team of crocodile researchers trap and sample these enormous reptiles will convince you otherwise. Read More
Iceman: The Lewis Gordon Pugh Story
Ice Man documents the extraordinary physiological and psychological journey of Lewis Pugh’s long distance swims in the freezing waters of both the south and the North Pole. Read More
- WINNER: Best Expedition Adventure Award , International NaturVision Film Festival 2010
- SCREENING: Filmfest Vimperk, Czech Republic, 5 – 8 October 2010
Legends of the Lake
"Everyone has beliefs… we know, that our being is in the lake" - Chief Ntsundeni Netshiavha. This film juxtaposes the ancient wisdom to the contemporary scientific knowledge, therefore exposes the impact of both schools of thought in encouraging communal solutions towards the future. Read More
Nature of Life
An epic documentary feature film that will provide solutions to humanity’s greatest challenge yet – Global Climate Change. Read More
- WINNER: Prize of Hope – International Festival of Sustainable Development Films - ekotopfilm 2009
- NOMINATED: Best Director – Sichuan TV Festival 2009
- NOMINATED: Best Long Documentary – Sichuan TV Festival 2009
- HONORABLE MENTION: For Cultural Message – IWFF 2009
- SELECTED FOR SCREENING: International Nature Film Festival GREEN SCREEN 2010
- SELECTED: For highlighting problems concerning the environment, its conservation, human activities and sustainable development – Sondrio Festival 2010, winners announced in October 2010
Out of Africa – Frogs in Decline
In recent times, frogs from every continent around the world have suffered from unexplained high death rates, resulting in various species undergoing severe population reductions and pushing others towards extinction. Join Professor Louis du Preez and Marius Burger as they investigate what they believe is the reason for the decline of amphibians. Read More
- SELECTED FOR SCREENING: International Nature Film Festival GREEN SCREEN 2010
- FINALIST: For Biodiversity Award - International Nature Film Festival GREEN SCREEN 2010