Something powerful happens when art and conservation come together! The six films screened in this session all explore the relationship that different artists have with nature be they painters, singers or carvers.

🐬 The Last Vaquita (13min)

Produced by Ed Harrison & James Harrison and directed by Ed Harrison

With the Vaquita Porpoise on the brink of extinction, two brothers who collaborate as wildlife artists leave their studio behind and head to a small fishing town in Mexico. They board the M/V Farley Mowat to experience the front-line fight between ocean conservationists Sea Shepherd and the poachers, backed by the Mexican cartel, who are devastating countless marine species.

Caught up in a tale of greed and corruption, they witness a battle that seems all but lost and find themselves questioning their place in the world. Can they use their craft to take action amidst today’s Sixth Mass Extinction?

🌊 Te Whakairo (14min)

Directed & produced by Vanessa Wells

Te Whakairo - Ngā Kī o Te Tai Ao (The Carvings Carry the Stories of the World).

Two talented carvers from each end of Aotearoa take their whakairo (carving) to Antarctica in response to New Zealand’s kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of the world’s largest marine protected area - The Ross Sea.

🌟 Wandering Stars (3min) - WORLD PREMIERE

Directed by Anahita Babaei & Micah Garen

A micro short film featuring the Icelandic writer Sjón talking about why Iceland needs to end whaling.

🧂 Salt Medicine (21min)

Directed & produced by Sadie James

Salt Medicine is an expression of the many ways in which the Ocean makes us feel better, as seen through the eyes of artist Sadie James.

🐳 Mother Whale (4min) - WORLD PREMIERE

Directed by Anahita Babaei & Micah Garen

A short film about why we need to stop killing whales featuring the Icelandic singer Soley.

🐜 Our Friendly Little Bugs (4min)

Directed by Marie-Jo Long and produced by Serge Dentin

Ants, earthworms, bees, butterflies and woodlice are the heroes of this animated short. From the drawings they have made, a group of children tell us about the development, the places of life, and the roles that these insects have within the ecosystem of which they are a part.

A panel discussion and Q&A with the following speakers will take place after the screening of the films:

Vanessa Wells (Director of Te Whakairo)

Vanessa Wells is a filmmaker and theatre practitioner whose debut feature documentary EAST TO EAST premiered at NZIFF 2018. She co-directed an award-winning interactive documentary project about Kate Sheppard - GIVE KATE A VOICE in 2018. In 2018/19 Vanessa visited Antarctica twice, producing a children’s play, content for Sesame Street, and a short documentary TE WHAKAIRO, which has toured festivals worldwide. Recently returned from the Antarctic again, her production company, Elanti Media, is currently working on her second feature documentary, THE CLIMATE CANARY. Vanessa is also co-vice President of WIFTNZ, having been on the board since 2015.

Priscilla Wehi (Associate Professor at the Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, featured in Te Whakairo)

Priscilla Wehi is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago. She trained in zoology and ecology, and works mostly on transdisciplinary projects that ask questions about human and nature interactions. She is on the faculty of the Homeward Bound women in STEM leadership initiative which will visit Antarctica in November this year, and is part of the working group for the Rights of Antarctica.

More panellists will be announced soon!

To see our full program and detailed information please go to: https://wildearthoceania.com/program-2023/

Contact the host of WEOFF: Wildlife through an Art Lens - Norton St