Ecology Film Festival, Madurai
5 July 2026; 10 am to 6 pm
LENS Media Centre, Loyola ITI Campus
Gnana Olivupuram
Curated by Amudhan RP
Organised by
MARUPAKKAM & LENS Media Centre
Schedule (yet to get the approval from the filmmakers)
10 am to 1 pm
The Waves Will Never Stop
Dir: Kartik Sreenivasan, Sai Krishna L V, Sanjana Reddy; 10:00 min; Documentary; India
Twenty years after the 2004 Tsunami’s devastation in Bommayapalayam, Narayanan, a fisherman, carries vivid memories of that fateful morning- raging waves that shattered lives and swept away hundreds of homes in the village where he grew up. He and his crew continue to fish in those same waters, while the haunting ruins scattered along the shore linger silently, stuck in time. Amidst Narayanan's ventures into the sea each morning and his wife awaiting for his return at the shore, lies a quiet testament to hope and resilience, unfolding the community's enduring spirit.
The Well
Dir: Balaji Maheshwar; 1:02:07 min; Documentary; India
In a remote tribal village, a community unearths an age-old well, reviving not just their water source but their deep-rooted cultural and spiritual ties to nature. Bhaavi is an observational portrait of resilience, indigenous knowledge, and the fragile balance between humanity and ecology.
Located at the convergence of Eastern and Western Ghat mountain ranges, near the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border, lies the beautiful and pensive Solaganai tribal village. The Solagars are indigenous tribes who call the forests their home. But this home is without a dependable source of drinking water for most parts of the year, especially during the summer months. To bring one pot of drinking water, the people of Solaganai had to walk many miles, up and down hilly areas and down into the valley. For a scenic mountain hamlet, supposedly where springs and streams originate, this fate seemed ironic. This leads us to question our actions that disrupt ecological balance.
The Gold Panner from Lannavaara
Dir: Mattias Löw; 95 min; Documentary; Ghana, Namibia, Sweden
From his frozen birthplace above the Arctic Circle, Hans “Hasse” Söderström emerges as a man possessed by an impossible vision: to prove that ethical gold mining can survive—and thrive—in one of the world’s most corrupt industries.
This is the story of a man who bets everything—his fortune, his family, his sanity—on an idea. Whether Söderström emerges as a visionary who transforms an industry, or as another broken dreamer buried in African soil, remains the question that haunts every frame of his extraordinary, tragic, and relentlessly compelling journey.
2 pm to 4.15 pm
Kelad
Dir: Shruti Jagdale; 22:43 min; Documentary; India
The documentary explores Kelad, a serene village in the Vellha region, capturing its people’s daily struggles and deep rooted connection to rice farming. Surrounded by lush greenery and thick clouds, the village thrives in harmony with nature. Through resilience and simplicity, the film unveils Kelad’s essence, showcasing how the interplay of soil, water, air, fire, and sky shapes its unique spirit.
Karma Gaabo Re.
Dir: Shubham Neware; 47:00 min; Documentary; India
Spread across Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh, the Baiga Tribe has seen its population decline over time. Displaced from their ancestral lands in the 1960s, they have struggled to preserve their traditions in a rapidly evolving world. Yet, deep in the villages of Lagma and Bandhatola, Madhya Pradesh. The echoes of their past still live on, woven into their songs, dances, and unwavering bond with nature.
Karma Gaabo Re, the documentary film offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the Baiga’s way of life, capturing their beliefs, rituals, and the deeper meaning behind their music and dance. More than just performances, these art forms are their way of storytelling, expressing joy, sorrow, and their connection to the land they revere. Film follows a raw, observational approach, unfolding the story naturally, coming from the Baiga itself, in their own rhythm.
“Karma Gaabo Re” means “Let’s sing karma” in English. Karma is a song sung by baiga tribe.
Bajau Laut - the Sea is our Home
Dir: Joo Peter; 1:10:00 min; Documentary; Malaysia
Their stilt houses are burnt down, their boats destroyed: indigenous people like the sea nomads in Malaysia are denied citizenship and passports as they are disenfranchised as stateless people. But centuries of history and the graves of their ancestors on the Malaysian islands are proof of their roots.
4.30 pm
LUPI NOSTRI (Our Wolves)
Dir: Samer Angelone; 1:22:00 min; Documentary; Italy
Professor Luca Rossi dedicates what remains of his university career to study wolves, but his findings conflict with his emotions as he navigates the contentious divide between wolf defenders and opponents. As Luca tries to be as close as possible to the wolves to understand them, he finds himself facing the sentiments of those who fear and love them.
