Ten science films produced by the inaugural African Science Filmmaker Fellows are now available for viewing on YouTube and Vimeo, marking a significant milestone in science communication across the African continent.
The 2023 NEWF (Nature Environment & Wildlife Conservation Trust) African Science Film Fellowship selected twelve passionate producers for an immersive workshop focused on conservation science and filmmaking.
This pioneering cohort went on a year-long journey to master the art of creating compelling science films. The Fellowship includes online sessions, hands-on workshops, two in-person trips to Gorongosa National Park (June and September), a week at the Jackson Wild Summit in Wyoming, and a final showcase at the #NEWFFellowsSummit & Congress in February 2024.
Each fellow received a gear package valued at approximately $10,000, equipping them to continue producing high-quality content as they advance in their careers.
Supported by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Gorongosa National Park, and Africa Refocused (a collaboration between NEWF and National Geographic Society), the 2023 NEWF African Science Film Fellowship is more than a program—it’s a platform for African filmmakers, conservationists, and scientists to collaborate and contribute to a shared vision of preserving the earth’s natural assets for future generations. A list of the films and links can be found below.
1. “The Little Things” by Randall Mabwa is a short film showcasing scientist Iolanda Marcolino’s passion for insects and their role – specifically beetles – in Gorongosa Park ecosystems.
2. “The Element of Life” by Tumi Sejoe highlights Amade Real’s research on carbon sequestration above and below ground in different vegetation zones.
3. “Mãe das Borboletas” (Mother of Butterflies) by Niaina Ramihangihajason follows scientist Elsa Cândido Caetano as she explores butterfly populations as biodiversity indicators and symbols of hope for reforestation in Gorongosa National Park.
4. A film by Augusto Bila, “A Voz Dos Morcegos” (The Voice of Bats) features Ceśaria Victória Huó, a scientist passionate about bats.
5. “The Reforestation of Mount Gorongosa,” a film by Nathan Rice, takes us high into the Gorongosa Mountains with Dadzie Tarua as he shares how insects impact forests – and planting trees among community crops.
6. In “Planta, a Sombra da Vida” by Carlos Noronha, Lurdes Mahale talks about overcoming the challenges she faced in education by studying under a tree, and how she eventually became inspired to conserve Mozambique’s forests.
7. Chisomo Kawaga’s “Flow of Hope” tells the story of 26-year-old Zito Bande, who grew up in a community reliant on unsanitary river water.
8. “Savannah Girl” by Samira Vera-Cruz is a short film featuring Clementina da Graça Elias as she uses soil sampling, camera traps, and generational knowledge from her grandmother to research the impact of fire and herbivores on savannah vegetation.
9. “Canção da Savana” explores Jonatá Caminho’s research on bird ecosystems in Gorongosa National Park.
10. In “Coexistencia” (Coexistence), a film by Guerchom Ndebo, Isaías Simao Bendana introduces us to the old and new methodologies that together prove just how beautiful and life-giving fire can be, when harnessed as a conservation tool.