Worldwide climate change and its regional impacts represent one of the greatest challenges for the global community. Yet, in many cases, we’ve only just begun to find societal answers to the effects of climate change. The active participation of all social actors is vital to achieving the necessary transformation processes – and the medium of film can play an important part! The core of this event is a panel discussion with members from the scientific community and the film industry, who will tackle the following topics: Are scenarios that depict the effects of global climate change unsuitable for cinema in the early 21st century? Do filmmakers lack the courage and/or imagination to create utopian stories that address the need to change the way we live? How likely do the panel members feel it is that we’ll soon see a bold vision of the future in cinema? The panel and audience will discuss these questions from different perspectives but optimistic viewpoints. For the fast five years, the Helmholtz Climate Initiative REKLIM and the DEKRA University of Applied Sciences in Berlin have focused their combined energies on the interface of film and climate research. The result: stories that underscore the repercussions of climate change, and the urgent need to take action. Inspired by discussions with REKLIM researchers, the students develop their own interpretations of a world transformed by climate change. Examples of short films and a discussion with the young directors will round out the evening.

Our guests include filmmaker Amie Batalibasi from the Solomon Islands; Prof Peter Lemke, a climate expert from the Alfred Wegener Institute; and Prof Peter Henning, a screenwriter, director and Professor of Screenwriting at the Film University Babelsberg.

PROGRAMME (PDF)

06.00 – 6:10 p.m.
Bedtime Stories D 2018, 6 min
Ipek Sertöz, DEKRA Hochschule für Medien

06:00 - 06:15 p.m.
Welcome by Anna Kalbhenn (NATIVe Project Manager & Co-Curator) and the organizers Dr Klaus Grosfeld (REKLIM) and Prof Rolf Teigler (DEKRA Hochschule für Medien)

06:15 - 06:35 p.m.
Future climate change – water: too much or too little?
Prof Peter Lemke (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research)

06:35 – 06:55 p.m.
Tide of Change 2010, Solomon Islands, 11 min
Amie Batalibasi

06:55 – 07:40 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Climate Change and Science Fiction- a Possible Vision of the Future, or Already Reality?
Amie Batalibasi (Australian Solomon Islander Filmmaker; film contributor to Berlinale NATIVe), Prof Peter Henning (screenwriter, director and Professor for screenwriting at the Film University Babelsberg), Prof. Peter Lemke (scientific coordinator REKLIM), Dr Renate Treffeisen (AWI climate office, REKLIM); Prof Rolf Teigler (DEKRA Hochschule für Medien, Moderation)

07:40 – 08:05 p.m.
Short movies from REKLIM-DEKRA student project
Appletree, D 2018, 7min
Robin Mandel, DEKRA Hochschule für Medien
Addio Venezia D 2018, 6 min
Nicholas Kirchner, DEKRA Hochschule für Medien
The Wall D 2018, 10 min
Ipek Sertöz and Iria Guldimann, DEKRA Hochschule für Medien

08:05 – 08:20 p.m.
Discussion with the students

08:20 - 08:25 p.m.
Closure of the event by organizers Dr Klaus Grosfeld (REKLIM) and Prof Rolf Teigler (DEKRA Hochschule für Medien)

Admission is free, and there will be a subsequent get-together where participants can exchange ideas.