The fifth edition of the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) is taking place from November 22 to December 8 this year. As India’s premiere showcase of climate stories and the environment, the audience can expect powerful stories on regeneration, activism, crisis and hope. This year’s festival has a new film category called “Environmental Journalism” that highlights, encourages and recognises environmental journalism films. The festival is going international this year, with screenings taking place in Costa Rica, Nepal, the USA and Australia.
Here are some of the most interesting films you can watch at ALT EFF 2024 through its pay-as-you-feel global online streaming platform and in-person community screenings.
Narrated by Oscar- and BAFTA-winning actress Tilda Swinton, “Some Thoughts on the Common Toad” is a compelling ciné-collage manifesto that defends the essence of beauty in an age marked by political cynicism and environmental alienation. Drawing inspiration from George Orwell's thought-provoking essay of the same name, the film features a poignant narration and a rich tapestry of images and sound through which director G Anthony Svatek explores the significance of the common toad as a symbol of natural beauty and ecological importance. The film juxtaposes the serene elegance of the natural world with the harsh realities of contemporary societal and environmental issues. As it delves into themes of decay and hope, the movie challenges viewers to reflect on their own relationship with nature and the impact of modern life on the environment.
“Stubble – The Farmer’s Bane” explores the severe air pollution crisis in northern India, particularly in Punjab, caused by stubble burning. This 35-minute documentary delves into the deep-rooted issues behind this practice, focusing on a small region in Punjab as a representative case. It captures the struggles of farmers forced to burn crop residue—stubble—due to a tight timeline between harvest and the next planting season. This practice results in toxic smoke that affects air quality, eventually impacting health in cities like Delhi.
The film highlights how stubble burning is a consequence of policies established during the “Green Revolution,” which promoted non-native crops and led to unsustainable agricultural practices. Government subsidies further entrenched this cycle, leaving farmers with few alternatives. Two contrasting figures emerge in the narrative: a young farmer experimenting with organic methods and an older farmer with two decades of experience in organic farming. Their stories of innovation, risk and resilience offer a glimpse into possible solutions despite the broader systemic challenges. As the film examines their experiences, it poses critical questions about the future of farming in Punjab and the urgent need for sustainable practices to break the cycle of stubble burning and its consequences.
Nominated for “Best Animated Short” at the 2023 Academy Awards, this film is a natural history fantasy that chronicles the dramatic life cycle of wild salmon, portrayed in human form. Through mesmerising imagery and a narrative voice by Marianne Faithfull, the film immerses viewers in the salmon’s epic journey from freshwater birth to oceanic adulthood and back to their origins. The 15-minute short film intertwines myth and nature, exploring the profound connection between these remarkable creatures and their environment. The film’s rich visual storytelling and evocative narration offer a unique perspective on the wild salmon’s timeless odyssey.
“Foragers” depicts the dramas around the practice of foraging for wild edible plants in Palestine/Israel with wry humour and a meditative pace. Shot in the Golan Heights, the Galilee and Jerusalem, it employs fiction, documentary and archival footage to portray the impact of Israeli nature protection laws on these customs. The restrictions prohibit the collection of the artichoke-like ‘akkoub and za’atar (thyme) and have resulted in fines and trials for hundreds caught collecting these native plants. For Palestinians, these laws constitute an ecological veil for legislation that further alienates them from their land while Israeli state representatives insist on their scientific expertise and duty to protect. Following the plants from the wild to the kitchen, from chases between the foragers and nature patrol to courtroom defences, this movie captures the joy and knowledge embodied in these traditions alongside their resilience to the prohibitive law. By reframing the terms and constraints of preservation, the film raises questions around the politics of extinction, namely, who determines what is made extinct and what gets to live on.
This movie takes an in-depth look at the critical state of Delhi's Yamuna River, a once-pure waterway now facing severe ecological collapse. The 38-minute documentary explores the historical neglect and current mismanagement that have contributed to the river's decline through interviews with experts and personal testimonies. “Jamna – The River Story” uncovers the systemic indifference of authorities and questions public apathy towards this environmental crisis. Narrated by Shyam, a local boatman whose life is intertwined with the river, the film highlights the Yamuna's deep cultural significance and the devastating impact of its degradation. The documentary is propelled by the unprecedented floods of 2023, which served as a stark wake-up call.
This is a thought-provoking documentary that challenges the dominant economic narrative centred around the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a statistic often deemed the most important in human history. The film argues that our global reliance on GDP and its demand for perpetual economic growth is driving humanity toward devastating outcomes, including war, poverty, extreme climate change and mass extinctions—potentially even our own. Through the intertwining stories of Ronald Colman, a visionary political scientist from Canada, and Jigme Y Thinley, the former Prime Minister of Bhutan, the documentary explores alternative models that prioritise human wellbeing over mere economic output. Colman has spent decades developing the Genuine Progress Index (GPI), a metric that assesses the real quality of life, while Thinley has championed Gross National Happiness (GNH), a philosophy that guides Bhutan’s development and measures prosperity through holistic and sustainable approaches.
The film takes viewers on a global journey, from the bustling cities of the West to the serene landscapes of the Himalayan kingdom, revealing the tireless efforts of Colman and Thinley as they collaborate across local communities, sovereign states and international platforms like the United Nations. Their mission is to shift the world's focus from relentless economic growth to a more balanced, sustainable approach that truly reflects what counts in life.
The All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) hopes to catalyse widespread transformative climate action in India through the emotive power of cinema. Launched in 2020, the festival curates impact storytelling and experiential learning that is accessible, relevant and inspires awareness into action. Their first year featured films from 22 countries and 17 Indian premieres. For more information about ALT EFF, visit https://www.alteff.in/.
