>1.5°C: Pyropolitics and the New World
Lukas Marxt
Climate at IDFA: films and conversations about a changing world
Festival
Monday, November 2
By Staff
What do devastating wildfires, shifting ecosystems and human intervention mean for the future of our planet? At IDFA, you can explore these urgent questions not only through films, but also in conversations with filmmakers, experts and other special guests.
Several screenings in the Climate and Environment pathway offer audiences the opportunity to explore the themes raised by the films in greater depth, from the impact of climate change on people and wildlife to the responsibility we all share.
In 1.5°C: Pyropolitics and the New World, filmmaker Lukas Marx turns his attention to the devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles in January 2025. The film shows how extreme weather events are increasingly disrupting everyday life. Following the screening on November 17, presenter Femke van der Laan will be joined by the filmmaker for a conversation about the film and the wider implications of the climate crisis.
Just Look Up also explores how people are taking action against global warming. The film follows Michael Greenberg and a new generation of activists from Climate Defiance, who use non-violent but disruptive protests to draw attention to the climate crisis. Their actions target politicians and influential business leaders, holding them accountable for their role in the crisis. On November 16, Femke van der Laan will host a post-screening discussion. On November 19, a special screening will be followed by a talk moderated by climate journalist Jelmer Mommers of De Correspondent.
In Holy Wood Dust, filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky shifts the focus to trees. Together with botanist Stefano Mancuso, he explores how trees communicate with their surroundings and how vulnerable forests have become. From Alpine pine forests ravaged by bark beetles to the large-scale production of Christmas trees, the film reveals how our relationship with trees and forests is shaped by human needs and interventions. The screening on November 14 will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.
Nuisance Bear also examines the impact of a changing climate, this time from the perspective of the polar bear. In northern Canada, polar bears are increasingly venturing into inhabited areas as sea ice forms later in the year, making their natural food sources harder to reach. This is creating tensions with local residents, tourists and the industry that has grown up around relocating polar bears. The film also connects these developments to Inuit history, showing how their relationship with the animals and the environment they depend on is coming under increasing pressure.
Find out more about the films:
