Elements of(f) balance

Cinematic explorations of ecological interdependencies

AT 25 – 98 min. – Director: Othmar Schmiderer / Screenplay: Stephan Settele, Othmar Schmiderer – Music: Christian Fennesz / Producers: Othmar Schmiderer – Rating: particularly valuable – Original version with subtitles or partial German version.

In cooperation with the Climate Department of the Municipality of Gmunden. Director OTHMAR SCHMIDERER will be present for a discussion after the film. Ecological interdependencies, co-creation, resilience, and collaboration in nature – these are the themes of this documentary film, set against the backdrop of our increasingly threatened environment, which is facing immense ecological challenges. Beyond the poles of nostalgia and techno-futurism, the episodes of the film provide insight into natural processes and systems. ELEMENTS OF(F) BALANCE is an urgent and at the same time meditative film that provides an overview of the most pressing challenges facing our planet's valuable and diverse ecosystems, while also pointing to creative solutions for overcoming them. From the production of biodegradable building materials from fungi, to the cultivation of plants on floating beds in the lowlands of Bangladesh, to the sowing of straw to combat desertification in China, we witness the infinite gifts that nature has already given us to sustain life.

Without titles identifying nations or names, the film shows a series of scientists and farmers in different landscapes, speaking different languages and proposing a vision of cooperation and innovation that puts humanity first instead of borders. In light of the current climate catastrophe, director Othmar Schmiderer shows a necessary way out of despair, one that instead focuses on new ways of life that prioritize ecological sustainability over economic growth and mutuality over exploitation. With exquisite, breathtaking scenes on land and water, Schmiderer's documentary not only offers a glimmer of hope for the future, but also serves as a powerful reminder of why this world is worth saving.