ShAFF: Reconnection Films U

A new selection for ShAFF, of films which reconnect with community, nature and natural systems.

1. 4DWN 17 minutes

   4DWN tells the unconventional, and deeply personal story of a South Dallas skatepark whose mission is to change the lives of everyone that walks through the gate. The 4DWN skatepark is a resilience hub rooted in skate culture tackling head on the challenges of food insecurity and social justice in one of the city’s poorest communities. 4DWN is at once punk, irreverent, and authentic. But it’s also organic, nurturing, and profound. The magic of this skatepark-turned-urban farm is brought to life through a beautiful, intimate mixed media approach that pays homage to the canon of skate films that came before it. 4DWN chronicles the lives, both past and present, of the Park’s founders, as well as one budding young skateboarder who finds kinship, camaraderie, and a reason to keep pushing.

2. Trigger Fish 7 minutes

   Trigger Fish is a short film by Alnwick based filmmakers Helen Burt and Pierre Melion, capturing the unique spearfishing opportunities along the North East coast of the UK. Set against breathtaking cliffs and hidden coves of the North Sea, the film celebrates the region’s natural beauty, marine life, and sustainable seafood practices. As a personal challenge, Helen, who just learned to freedive this year, joins Pierre as he explores how immersion in the ocean supports mental wellbeing, helping him process his mother's recent passing. Created as part of the Tide to Table initiative, Trigger Fish seeks to reconnect viewers with coastal resources, showcasing the delicate balance of spearfishing as both an adventure and a sustainable way to gather fresh, local seafood while preserving the ecosystem.

3. In The Name of Ice 15 minutes

   Marcela Fernandez is afraid of nothing except the disappearance of Colombia's tropical glaciers - without anyone noticing. Deeply concerned with the solitude of the scientists and the isolation of the indigenous peoples who revere the glaciers, she devotes herself body and soul to the protection of the high mountains ecosystems. The more initiatives she takes, the more the sad truth becomes clear: her country must prepare to mourn the loss of its glaciers. As if faced with the loss of a loved one, Marcela looks to herself, to nature and to the strength of the collective for solutions in the hope of keeping this precious natural heritage alive for as long as possible, and mobilises her country to combat the impact of climate change in the mountains of Colombia. This portrait is part of a series entitled 'Altitudes' which explores the many facets of the relationship between man and mountain across the world and cultures.

4. Ngarridurndeng Kured / We Going Home Now 18 minutes

   Kuwarddewardde – the rock country – is home to the Bininj Nawarddeken, people who have always inhabited a remote corner of what is known today as Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. For millennia, they looked after the rock country, taking care of it for their ancestors and their children. Fire was one of their main tools and Bininj Nawarddeken actively burned areas of the savanna grasslands, woodlands and rainforests to protect them from large, devastating wildfires. But in the late 18th century, British colonialization disrupted the Bininj Nawarddeken’s connection to the land and their traditional use of fire. The result was the spread of massive wildfires that decimated pristine ecosystems. Dean Yibarbuk, Warddeken Land Management’s a First Nation’s owned non-profit and knowledge keeper of Bininj Nawarddeken, lays it plain: “Without people, those wildfires took place. It’s a lonely country waiting for people to return.” Ngarridurndeng Kured (We Going Home Now) follows Dean, his family and the Indigenous fire rangers he leads into the heart of Kuwarddewardde. Here ancient rhythms and traditional practices combine with western science to create a unique relationship that guards against devastating wildfires and supports the return of Bininj Nawarddeken to their traditional homelands and ways of living in the bush.

5. Planetwalker 31 minutes

   In 1971, John Francis embarked on a journey that would redefine environmental activism after witnessing the 1971 oil spill in San Francisco Bay. He took a 17-year vow of silence, renounced motorized transportation and began walking across the United States, seeking a deeper understanding of humanity’s relationship with the Earth. This transformative experience led him to become the “Planetwalker,” inspiring generations to reflect on their role in environmental stewardship and fostering a connection between the conservation movement and communities of color. ‘Planetwalker’ focuses on the period of John's life from the oil spill through his meandering 20- year journey across the states where he resumes speaking to work on oil spill legislation with the US Coast Guard. During this time, it seemed like the whole world, every creed and color, saw John pass by and interacted with him if only fleetingly. By tracking some of these characters down, we explore the weblike and sometimes deeply personal consequences of John’s decades of pilgrimage.