Family Cinema with Therapy Dogs Session (Adults only)
The relationship between humans and animals has always sparked discussion. This unit explores the mutual influence between humans and animals, both positive and negative, prompting reflections that extend beyond the screen.
And a Happy New Year, Sebastian Mulder, Netherlands 2023, 20min
There are 365 days in a year, and at the end of it, millions of euros’ worth of fireworks go up in smoke in the Netherlands, as in many other parts of the world. Many people enjoy this, but for animals, New Year’s Eve is a total nightmare. To make their experience tangible, Sebastian Mulder’s documentary takes an original approach: in the run- up to the big night, dogs belonging to different owners are fitted with a GoPro, and we follow their movements.
From the first bangs during the day to the deafening spectacle at midnight and in the hours afterwards, we witness the tension, stress and fear of the animals and their owners. This is certainly no celebration. We also see the effects on animals in pastures and in nature—the panic among birds, rodents, goats and horses is filmed using infrared cameras.
The poetry of the nighttime shots and the fireworks filmed in slow motion contrast starkly with the trembling, panting and slobbering animals in bare bathrooms and under beds. No commentary is needed, the images and sound speak for themselves, and the message is loud and clear—even louder than the fireworks.
Mudi, Luo Qin, China 2024, 22min
The six-year-old Tibetan girl Rigzin Sedron came back to the pastoral area to live with her grandma in winter. An aged released sheep (MUDI) lost inspired her awareness about the truth of life in childhood.
Immaculate, Ningjing Wang, United Kingdom 2024, 15min
"Sometimes I feel like I am not a conservation researcher but an extinction accountant." In the remote landscapes of China, ecologist Amaël Borzée, driven by relentless passion, has dedicated five years of his life to understanding and preserving the legacy of the Chinese immaculate treefrogs, a once-thriving amphibian species now teetering on the brink of extinction. For hundreds of nights, Amaël immersed himself alone in tranquil rice paddies, listening to the haunting calls of the treefrogs. Sadly, with each passing year, their enchanting chorus grows fainter and fainter. This year, Amaël’s path crosses with Ningjing Wang, a local filmmaker whose love for frogs traces back to her childhood. United by a shared hope to save the immaculate treefrogs, they embark on an extraordinary journey into the heart of rural China. Together, they uncover not only the secrets of this elusive species but also the mutual challenges confronting both the frogs and the agricultural communities. In 'Immaculate', Amaël and Ningjing's quest becomes a beacon of hope, but can their joint efforts secure a future for this overlooked amphibian?
