Matsalu Nature Film Festival: Discovering wildlife through film

Text Mark Taylor
Photos  Matsalu Nature Film Festival

From today, September 25 to October 6, the Matsalu Nature Film Festival will take place in Lihula, in western Estonia. This year’s festival will offer an extraordinary selection of nature films alongside an engaging nature photography programme and activities for children.

Founded 22 years ago, the Matsalu Nature Film Festival has evolved from a modest initiative into a highly respected event on the global film circuit. Initially launched as “Green Gate,” the festival showcased only 23 films from seven countries during its inaugural year. In 2023, the festival received over 1,200 submissions from filmmakers from more than 90 countries, reflecting its growing international recognition.

A staple of the Matsalu festival is its focus on nature photography. Attendees can look forward to captivating exhibitions and workshops featuring esteemed photographers from Estonia and beyond. One day of the festival is dedicated entirely to photography, showcasing the winners of Estonia’s largest nature photo competition, Nature Year Photo.

Located just ten minutes from the festival venue, Matsalu National Park enhances the festival experience, allowing visitors to explore its diverse landscapes, teeming with wildlife such as flocks of cranes and geese, as well as reed beds and meadows. Many Estonian nature films have been shot in this picturesque setting.

The festival serves as a vital platform for raising awareness about environmental issues. Nature films have become a crucial means for urban audiences to connect with the natural world, reminding us of our integral role within it. This year, the festival will feature multiple significant films such as “A Call from the Wild,” directed by Asgeir Helgestad, which documents the fragile state of nature in Norway, highlighting the lives of bees, reindeer, and puffins while exploring human impact on the environment. Another film, “A Life Among Elephants,” chronicles the life of Iain Douglas-Hamilton, a pioneer in elephant research, delving into his efforts to combat the ivory trade and establish global conservation initiatives. Additionally, the film “Dams – Damage to Estonian Rivers” examines the impact of Soviet-era concrete dams on migratory fish populations in Estonia, showcasing ongoing efforts to restore natural river ecosystems.

You can learn more about the programme on the event’s official webpage.

To learn more about this and similar topics
Events in Estonia Family-friendly events Matsalu National Park Matsalu Nature Film Festival Nature Documentaries Nature Photography Wildlife Films